BBC Radio Derby’s fifth annual Derbyshire Day

BBC Radio Derby’s fifth annual Derbyshire Day celebration takes place on Sunday 25 September between 11:00 -16:00.

This year it marks a pair of 40th anniversaries – the launch of the radio
station and the opening to the public of Sudbury Hall (this year’s venue).

The outdoor event is free to attend, but there is an admission cost for the
National Trust’s Sudbury Hall and Museum of Childhood if you wish to tour them
as part of your visit.

Derbyshire Day has become an opportunity for the people of the county to come
together and celebrate their surroundings and heritage.

On offer at the event will be local food, entertainment and crafts. It’s also
a chance to enjoy the history, wildlife, and countryside on offer at the country
home of the Lords Vernon.

Guided bird walks will be on offer around the area to discover more about the
hall’s surroundings. It’s a family event, but no pets will be allowed except
assistance dogs.

There will be designated disabled parking in the hall’s main car park and at
the front of the house, with transfer available as well as a drop-off point.

Labour fighting to retain Derby

The battle for Derby is shaping up as a tussle between Labour and a strong Liberal Democrat opposition.
Labour leader Chris Williamson has been very cautious in describing the current deal that allows him to run the city with active Conservative support.

But one Labour politician has described it as an "unholy alliance".

Labour has seen its main challenge coming from the Lib Dems, who took over the city three years ago in coalition with the minority Conservative group.

But a clash of personalities and political cultures made it an unhappy marriage.

Close race

After last May's elections, Labour leader Chris Williamson offered the Tories four cabinet posts in a deal to elbow the Lib Dems into the political cold and put Labour back in power.

In nearby Amber Valley, controlled by the Conservatives, the Labour leader almost lost his seat to the BNP in the last election.

The Labour-controlled South Derbyshire council is located in a suburban area where there is an outside chance of a Tory revival.

In Bolsover, Labour has a strong hold on the council with 31 seats whereas the Tories and Lib Dems are struggling with no seats at all.

It is a different story in Derbyshire Dales and Amber Valley where the Conservatives have a healthy lead with Labour trailing.

Erewash is a close race where only four seats separating Labour and the Tories - with the Conservatives currently in the ascendancy.

In Chesterfield, the Lib Dems control the council with 36 seats to Labour's 12 seats - making it one of the only Lib Dem-run councils in the region.

My advice is simple-do not vote for anyone who is standing for re-election. You will only get more of the same if you do.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-28 06:20:59

Derby Playhouse must be more amateurish

The Playhouse Theatre will have to cater more for the amateur sector and work closely with the public to hold on to its money from the council.

Derby City Council cut the theatre's funding from £407,500 to £395,275, in the current budget after its review of all arts groups found it was one of the poorest performers.

Now the council is insisting the theatre develops local talent - or else it could stop or even claw back its funding.

The funding agreement, signed in March, has nine main conditions including that the Playhouse will develop a "supportive relationship with Derby's amateur theatre community" and provide "a youth theatre, community theatre and kids club."

The Playhouse will also have to consult amateur dramatics groups by the end of May and publish an action plan by June 30 outlining how it will support and improve their access to the theatre.

The agreement is much more specific than last year's, which had just four main conditions about outreach, education and volunteering programmes while staging year-round theatre.

This year's conditions have been welcomed by amateurs. But Damon Parkin, spokesman for Derby Playhouse, said it already had a youth theatre.

"We value our partnership with Derby City Council and are pleased that after completing this annual process we are now working on an exciting series of productions alongside our educational and community-based programmes.

"That work includes our Youth Theatre production of The Tempest, in June, which will feature around 60 local youngsters under a professional director.

"Over 12,000 adults and children benefited from our participation programme, workshops, education days and tours last year and we'll continue to build on the success of our Hot Tickets scheme, which saw 3,776 tickets distributed to a diverse range of 99 community groups in 2006."

The council said it had been working closely with the Playhouse.

Ray Rippingale, assistant director for cultural services, said the agreement would bring the Playhouse closer to the public.

"This is an important step for both the Playhouse and the council, because we have begun to look beyond the artistic success of the theatre thus far to plan for a developing relationship with its public," he said. "Over the coming months, we will be helping Derby Playhouse to develop its collaboration with the amateur sector, build an education programme and create a reputation for equalities and diversity in its business."

Amateur dramatic companies have welcomed the clauses in the agreement.

Tina Webster, director of Kaleidoscope Players in Derby said her group had never established links with the Playhouse.

"I think it would be nice for them to nurture a relationship with amateur theatre companies better.

"We would be in favour of them doing training workshops and those sorts of things which they used to do but which have fallen by the wayside."

The Playhouse could seek advice from the Derby City Council, as they continually act like a bunch of amateurs in their day to day handling of ratepayers cash.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-28 06:00:37

Viking Village Closed-Permantly

The man behind a failed tourist attraction in Derby said that its final closure was a "crying shame".

It was revealed yesterday that the Derventio Heritage Village in Chaddesden, which was shut temporarily in February, would not reopen.

The Viking centre, off Nottingham Road, was the brainchild of Chaddesden resident Ed Buckley, who worked to bring the vision of a major tourist attraction for Derby to life.

It featured a visitor centre, a Roman fort, three Saxon houses and two Celtic roundhouses but was closed six months after opening because it failed to attract enough visitors or funding.

The village cost just under £900,000 and was funded mainly through Derwent Community Team, which is in charge of allocating £42m to the New Deal area of Chaddesden.

In December, Derwent Delivers stepped in to see if it could save the failing attraction but decided it should close to save money while it considered a rescue plan.

But it has now been determined that the village would not be financially viable if it reopened.

Karl Walkinshaw, director of Derwent Community Team, said: "A range of options have been looked at and we have spoken to community, private and public sector partners.

"It's clear from our discussions that there is not enough capacity or funding to keep Derventio open as a Heritage Site and there is no confidence that an attempt to reopen Derventio would be sustainable in the long term.

"As a result, we are now looking at some other exciting options to take the site forward."

Mr Walkinshaw said his team was looking to maximise the use of what is on the site already and would not demolish any of the buildings until a decision had been made on what the site would be used for.

What I would like to know is how £900k was given to a project that lasted only a few months. Is anyone accountable? On the basis of this I wouldn't trust the Derwent Community Team with my son's pocket money let alone £42million.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-27 10:57:58

Big plans for Pride Park

Derby County has unveiled its vision of the future by announcing plans for a £20m development around Pride Park Stadium.

The proposed Pride Plaza scheme would see eye-catching changes to the west and east sides of the ground.

Plans which have still to be formally submitted to Derby City Council include an eight-storey 165-bed hotel, office space, a convenience store, banking, restaurants and bars all set in tree-lined pedestrian-friendly squares.

About 250 jobs would be created by the scheme.

The club sees the development becoming a local service centre for the people who work at the many businesses on Pride Park while providing improved facilities for the fans on match days.

Designs of the two-storey or three-storey individual buildings will not block views of the main entrance to the stadium.

There will also be two squares on the west side of the stadium named after Rams legends Steve Bloomer and Brian Clough, with a monument to each.

The road behind the east stand will become a more vibrant area and will be named Lionel Pickering Way as a tribute to the club's former chairman.

Current chairman Peter Gadsby, pictured, was the director who oversaw the original stadium development.

He said: "When we first built Pride Park we were always aware of further development potential and when I came back to the club almost 12 months ago with the current board of directors we indicated we would look to maximise that potential for the benefit of the club."

Derby could either make land available for sale to interested companies or fund the building of units themselves for rental.

Mr Gadsby says the 'Pride Plaza' project will not impact on any football revenue.

"No football or promotion income will be used to support this scheme," he said. "We anticipate strong demand for the new commercial space. Indeed, we already have interest from two global brands."

Preliminary talks with the planning authority have been positive, according to the Rams, and time-scales will be dictated by the planning process and negotiations with individual businesses.

The planning application could go in within three months.

Eighty car park spaces will be lost at the stadium to make way for the new development but the club will look at alternative arrangements.

"We are confident any parking issues can be addressed," said Mr Gadsby. "People may be worried about their parking but this is unlikely to take their parking away."

The club will press on with the plans irrespective of in which division it finds itself next season.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-27 10:47:18

Derby 1 v Luton 0 Nyatanga sends Luton down

Luton Town's relegation from the Championship was confirmed last night by a player whose season has been almost as unexplainable as their own. Lewin Nyatanga has been both a help and a hindrance to Derby this term, the 18-year-old featuring in Barnsley's recent victory over Birmingham and also making 11 appearances for Sunderland during two separate loan spells before he was recalled by Billy Davies this week. The Derby manager's timing was perfect.

Nyatanga marked his first appearance in a Derby shirt since September with a goal that lifts his side back into an automatic promotion place, one point above Birmingham having played a game more. For Luton there was only misery, this result bringing the harsh reality of League One football next season. Needing a victory to have any chance of survival, Kevin Blackwell presided over a fourth defeat in a row, which means Luton have collected one point from his five matches in charge.

Not that Blackwell can take the blame for relegation. The damage had been done long before he took over from Mike Newell last month, the dramatic slide since the New Year, during which Luton have picked up eight points from a possible 54, turning a season that promised so much early on into the ultimate failure.

"It hurts to be relegated," admitted Blackwell. "I haven't come here to sit in the lower echelons of English football. I want to make sure this club gets back as quickly as I can."

The Luton manager believes that an immediate return to the second tier is possible, pointing to the arrival of David Pinkney as chairman as pivotal in changing the club's fortunes in the future. "He's got a business brain, he's dynamic and he has got high demands," added Blackwell. The Luton manager understands that funds will be made available next season, with a forward likely to be his first priority. "It's no secret that Luton have sold £4m of strikers," he added.

Steve Howard was among them although the Derby striker failed to score against his former club. He came close on two occasions, seeing a header cleared off the line by Chris Coyne before Gary Teale, his team-mate, managed to do the same in the second half.

Those moments might have pained Howard but relief for a nervous Derby side had come much earlier when Nyatanga converted from inside the six-yard box after Dean Brill, outstanding in goal for Luton, superbly repelled Dean Leacock's point-blank header.

"That's called needs must," said Davies, playing down suggestions that his decision to bring Nyatanga back from Oakwell was a masterstroke. The Derby manager said that "it would have been a travesty if we had not picked up three points", alluding to several near misses, with Matt Oakley striking the crossbar and the substitute Arturo Lupoli denied after Brill stuck out a foot.

Davies had good reason to be sanguine, however. "We have now put a lot of pressure elsewhere," he added.

Unfortunately Birmingham rose above the pressure and only maximum points from the remaining two games will give Derby any chance of automatic promotion.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-26 10:22:54

Still no lottery bid for Elvaston gardens

Protesters fighting to keep Elvaston Castle open to the public want to know why Derbyshire County Council has not resubmitted a lottery bid to restore historic gardens there.

The Friends of Elvaston Castle have said the council is taking too long over the £10m bid, which would see the 185-acre garden area restored to its former glory.

The county council submitted an initial bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund last summer, seeking to restore the castle's gardens, which cover 185 acres of the 325-acre site.

But the bid was withdrawn in November when the Heritage Lottery Fund asked for more details.

The council said this would cause it to incur significant costs, and the withdrawal of the bid only came to light last month.

The council said that because the development of the castle was at an early stage, it was unwilling to cover the cost of providing detailed reports on the garden plans.

The Friends of Elvaston Castle believe the council is taking too long over the bid and should resubmit it as soon as possible.

Friends member Graham Mansey said: "Derbyshire County Council has been working on this garden restoration bid for the past six years.

"The Heritage Lottery Fund obviously still has problems with it. For Heritage Lottery Fund grants to be available, public access must be maintained at present levels or increased."

The restoration of the gardens was a key element of controversial plans to redevelop Elvaston Castle and the surrounding estate.

In 1999, the council announced it could no longer afford annual running costs of £500,000 or an essential repairs bill estimated at £4m.

It looked for developers to transform the site and, in November 2004, London-based Highgate Sanctuary was chosen to turn the run-down building into an £18m hotel with 160 rooms.

The plans also include a golf course. Remaining land, including the gardens, would be run by a trust.

Last June, the council decided to award Highgate a 150-year lease of the site, which states that Highgate Sanctuary would provide the £2.75m match funding required for a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the historic gardens.

The lease on the site, which attracts an average of 500,000 visitors each year, has not yet been signed.

As the bid was withdrawn in November, the council has spent about £800,000 of the annual £4m running cost since that date.

Mr Mansey said the Friends would like to see the house, gardens and estate completely restored.

He said the Heritage Lottery Fund had informed the Friends that money was available for such restoration but that this money must benefit as wide a proportion of the community as possible and must not lead to loss of public access.

A council spokeswoman said the authority had not yet resubmitted the bid but that work was being carried out to solve the Heritage Lottery Fund's issues with it.

She said the authority was still committed to restoring the gardens.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-10 07:49:27

Derby Cathedral takes hand of grant

Windows at Derby Cathedral will undergo essential repairs this summer, thanks to a grant of £27,000.

Head verger Tony Grantham said that the money, from English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, would be used to repair six large windows overlooking College Place.

He said: "It's great that we have received this money as the window panes are beginning to fall out."

The work will take six months and each window will also be fitted with a new grate.

Dr Anthony Streeten, of English Heritage, said: "I'm delighted that we've been able to double the amount available for repairs by pooling our resources with the foundation, a major grant-making charity."

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-10 07:36:07

Top Derby Chef for TV Finals

Top Derby chef Sat Bains is looking forward to battling it out in the finals of the television series Great British Menu.

After competing with Norfolk chef Galton Blackiston in the BBC2 show's central region heat, Normanton-born Mr Bains was named the winner.

Mr Bains said his original ideas helped him to win. Three other chefs will be chosen from regional heats to compete with Mr Bains in the final.

The overall winner will cook a banquet in Paris for the British Ambassador to France and his wife.

I wonder what the runner up gets?

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-10 07:29:51

Leicester 1 Derby 1 - Is a point enough at the Walkers?

Derby's progress towards the Premiership, seemingly serene, was interrupted by some difficulties close to home.

While the majority of their points have been gleaned on their travels, Leicester, their closest rivals - geographically, anyway - in the Championship, deprived Derby of a club record 13th away win of the season. The Leicester substitute Matty Fryatt's equaliser, as well as reducing the possibility that the club's new owner, Milan Mandaric, will have invested in a League One club, made it a profitable trip to the Walkers Stadium for the Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce. His side will displace Derby at the Championship summit if they beat Burnley today.

Given Derby's mastery of a one-goal lead - it has sufficed for 19 of their Championship victories this season - and Leicester's ineffectiveness in open play, it ranked as a surprise when Fryatt levelled. Yet Derby's failure to build on the advantage Craig Fagan gave them, coupled with their timid attempts to convert late chances, meant they did not merit victory.

They will, however, rue misses that could yet determine the destination of the Championship. David Jones was one culprit, misjudging a header when unmarked while the assurance Fagan displayed for his goal was lacking when Gary Teale supplied him. "He should have been more clinical at the end," Davies said.

And it served to reinforce the significance of the suspended Steve Howard. Howard is available for the visit of Coventry City on Monday and it is a safe assumption he will be restored to the team. "We've got four difficult points from six and now we can welcome back our striker," Davies added. "He's a big loss."

The forwards selected - Fagan, Jon Macken and Darren Currie - started without a single goal for Derby. Fagan remedied that in his 12th match since his £750,000 move from Hull, yet Derby were too ineffectual up front. The exception came when Jones began a counter-attack by feeding Giles Barnes. As four defenders congregated around the teenager, he found Fagan and the winger's finish curled around Paul Henderson in goal.

Leicester were doubly aggrieved. In the ascendancy for the opening quarter, they were still bemoaning referee Howard Webb's decision not to award them a penalty. As Danny Tiatto - who Davies felt should have been dismissed for elbowing Barnes - delivered a left-wing corner, Darren Moore both grappled with and leant on Patrick Kisnorbo. "It was a penalty,' said the Leicester manager, Robert Kelly, ruing his players' reaction to Webb's ruling as Fagan advanced to score. "That second or two of disappointment cost us."

He was happier with the response of his replacement. Freed by Jason Jarrett, Fryatt evaded Dean Leacock's attentions before placing his low shot beyond Stephen Bywater. The celebrations in Birmingham and Sunderland were surely as loud as those in Leicester.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-07 04:03:10

Derby to get talking CCTV cameras

Talking Cctv cameras will be coming to Derby following an announcement that the Government will fund them.

It was announced this morning that the city will receive £9,000 to pay for the cameras.

They will be linked to speakers which could boom out warnings to litter louts, vandals and anyone else acting in an anti-social way.

They could also be used to stop arguments turning into fights, to stop people quarrelling in the streets or for crowd control at major events.

CCTV operators could issue warnings to people on the streets and also direct police to the scene of any crime or aggravation.

Derby City Council leader Chris Williamson said he was "delighted" that funding had been awarded.

But he said he did not yet know how much the cameras cost or how many would be installed.

He said: "This is another tool in the locker to help us combat anti-social behaviour, which is a priority for us."

The Home Office has agreed to give cash to 20 of its 40 Respect areas, including Derby. Among the others are Nottingham, which will receive £9,830, and Mansfield, which will get £25,000.

The talking CCTV cameras are said to have been a huge success in Middlesbrough, where they have been undergoing tests since last year.

They were introduced by the town's mayor, Ray Mallon, a former police superintendent who was dubbed Robocop for pioneering a zero-tolerance approach to crime.

Initially, eight speaking cameras were introduced in September at a cost of £39,000. They have since been used more than 150 times.

An extra £20,000 will now be spent on 10 more cameras to be installed this month.

Mr Williamson said: "I have read that the cameras have been successful and all the evidence certainly points to the fact that they are very helpful," he said.

"It only takes a small number of people to spoil things for everyone else and I think the cameras will deter, detect and make people feel safer."

Mr Williamson said that despite the general awareness in the increase of CCTV cameras in the city, people could still be "oblivious" to them.

However, some councillors in Derby have criticised the new scheme.

Councillor Philip Hickson, leader of the city's Conservative group and city council cabinet member for community safety, described it as "Big Brother gone mad".

Derby was named as one of the Government's 40 Respect action areas earlier this year.

The so-called Respect towns and cities were chosen for already having made great strides in tackling anti-social behaviour.

It was hoped they would spread good ideas to other areas.

Speaking about the funding announcement, Home Secretary John Reid said: "The new funding for talking CCTV is aimed at the small minority who think it is acceptable to litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties.

"We all pay council tax, so in the end we all pay when our communities are disrespected - both in our pockets as well as in our daily lives."

I wonder if the announcer will translate the message into 35 languages in order to be politically correct and protect the human rights of non English speaking offenders. Somehow I doubt it.

It sounds more like Candid Camera meets Game for a Laugh.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-04 12:56:11

Derby kids go undercover to beat underage drinking

Children will be asked to try to buy alcohol in Derby pubs as part of a police crackdown on premises that sell booze to underage revellers.

An army of teenage test purchasers will begin visiting premises around the city to see if staff challenge them about their age.

Police said the move was in response to an increase in drink-related anti-social behaviour caused by young people.

They warn that licensees who serve alcohol to the young customers could face court action and that pubs and bars which consistently fail the test could have their licences suspended.

The scheme, in which the children will be accompanied by undercover officers, is due to begin later this month.

Derby licensing officer Sergeant Katie Hobbs said: "We know there's an issue with underage people trying to buy alcohol, and that coincides with anti-social behaviour.

"More young people are wanting to drink, and that causes problems for other people. It also causes health problems for themselves and we want to be seen to be doing something pro-active in preventing that.

"We really don't want pubs to fail. If we can get everywhere in Derby to pass, it will be fantastic.

"When it gets around and people know that the police are targeting underage sales, more underage people will get turned away."

Children aged 15 and 16 will be used in the scheme and volunteers have been picked from city schools and other organisations.

During visits, they will be accompanied by two plain-clothes officers and will try to buy drinks. They will admit their age if asked by staff.

Sgt Hobbs warned that bar staff who failed the test could personally face a fixed penalty fine of £80. Managers and licensees caught selling to the test purchasers could end up in court.

The scheme will initially run for six months and police have warned that premises which fail the test three times during that period could have their licence suspended.

Craig Sharp-Weir, deputy chairman of PubWatch and general manager of Barracuda, in the Strand, said he welcomed the campaign.

He said special scanners had been installed at his bar, which can spot fake ID.

"I don't see the police campaign as a threat. At the end of the day we don't want underage drinkers in here," Mr Sharp-Weir said. "It's no use kidding yourself that some people don't slip through the net but all we can do is our very best."

I'll drink to that!

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-04 12:48:53

TV Screen in Derby Market Place

Work to install a big TV screen in Derby's Market Place is set to start next month.

The city council had hoped that the screen would be installed by April.

But a number of delays in planning and paying for it, plus the fact that TV licence detector vans have been in the area recently, have led to the date being put back.

Council leader Chris Williamson said that work to install the supporting posts would get under way.

"Once that work is done, we're hoping we can have the screen in place by May," he said.

"It will be a big thing for Derby to have this screen, particularly in what we're trying to achieve in boosting the Cathedral Quarter."

Chris Sabian, Peak District View- 2007-04-01 06:05:50

At last an ice rink for Derby

Councillor Chris Williamson, leader of Derby City Council, announced plans on Wednesday to set up an ice rink in the Market Place during this year's festive period, after similar schemes in other centres proved popular with shopkeepers.


Last year, Exeter introduced a rink for the first time. Lead councillor for economy Ian Martin, said it had been a huge success.

"We had a lot of return visitors and in total we had around 27,000 visits," he said. I was impressed with the fact that the retail economy really benefited from this."

The rink was in place for six weeks.

Mr Williamson said that Derby's open-air rink would be in the Market Place between November and January, subject to a contract being signed in the new few weeks.

"It is all about bringing in another reason for people to come to the Cathedral Quarter and that side of Derby while capitalising on the extra footfall created by the new Westfield centre when it opens," he said.

The rink will be operated by Creative Ice, which will cover its costs by keeping the money charged to skate.

It's a pity it isn't permanent. But if it is a success maybe the proposed cinema for the Riverlights will be exchanged for an ice rink. Afterall, Nottingham has two!

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-01 05:14:28

Tory Plans for Local Elections

Derby's controlling Labour group is currently considering whether or not to bid for Government cash for reducing congestion, but it is likely that any grant would come with the condition that road charging is introduced.

The city's Conservative group is totally opposed to the introduction of congestion charges

Richard Smalley, Conservative group deputy leader, said: "Congestion charging, or road pricing as it has been called, does nothing to reduce congestion.

"It is a blunt tax, and people who drive are taxed to the hilt. They are already taxed on fuel, on road fund licence - congestion charging is not the way forward.

"It will cost people around £1,200 pounds a year or more to access the city centre for work. If they have just left school or university and are on a low income, it could deter people from working in the city."

The Tory group said it instead wanted to continue supporting a feasibility study into tram and electric bus schemes in the city and explore the possibility of a direct rail link to East Midlands Airport.

The Conservatives also outlined plans for an extended pedestrianised area in the city centre.

Mr Smalley said he personally wanted to extend the restriction on traffic to Wardwick and Friar Gate to create a more cafe-style environment. The group said it would also push for more demanding recycling targets and a separate Green Commission at the council to scrutinise council actions and decisions.

On education, Conservative group leader Philip Hickson promised people living in the city would get to send their children to city schools.

"At the moment places are being taken by people who live outside the city.

"People who live in the city will get a city school under us," he said. "This ties in with our green agenda because, at the moment, we have parents travelling the length and breadth of the city to get to schools."

Arts and culture were also high on the list of priorities in the manifesto, with plans to establish a summer music festival in the city as well as a venue to host big name acts.

Mr Hickson said: "We want that festival established in the next year to bring talent and entertainment to the city over the summer period.

"We also need a new venue developed for attracting big name entertainment to the city as well as supporting amateur dramatic groups."

There are promises to increase funding to the youth service and improve and rebuild Derby Library.

The Tories would also increase pressure on getting development under way at the Friar Gate Goods Yard before buildings fall into disrepair.

Mr Smalley also said it was essential to improve gateways into the city through using innovative signage and public art.

Perhaps David Cameron should listen to these boys. At least they seem to have some new ideas albeit expensive ones.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-01 03:32:14

Derby Canal display

An exhibition about the Derby and Sandiacre Canal opened yesterday in the Silk Mill Museum.

Produced by members of the Derby Canal Society, it combines images old and new with plans for the waterway's restoration.

Also on show are objects celebrating the canal's 18th-Century engineering.

Entry is free to the Silk Mill, which is in Full Street, Derby.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-01 03:26:54

Barnsley 1 Derby 2 Rams fans roar Derby to victory

Derby won at Barnsley to extend their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship - but the real talking point at Oakwell was a sickening injury to David Lucas.

David Jones had put the visitors in control with a sixth goal since his January move from Manchester United, but it was Derby's second for which the game will be remembered.
Making his first start for the club, goalkeeper Lucas was knocked out after clattering into Giles Barnes in the box, allowing Matt Oakley to fire into an empty net.

Despite several minutes of treatment, the on-loan Sheffield Wednesday stopper only regained consciousness en route to hospital.

Sam Togwell pulled a goal back late in stoppage time but Derby were worthy winners.

As well as Lucas, Barnsley made three other changes from their last outing, Bobby Hassell and Anthony Kay coming into the backline and West Ham winger Kyel Reid replacing the banned Martin Devaney.

Derby, meanwhile, entrusted Jon Macken with filling the boots of suspended top scorer Steve Howard, while Darren Currie was handed a first start in midfield at the expense of Seth Johnson.

Barnsley assistant boss Ryan Kidd revealed in midweek he and manager Simon Davey had devised a gameplan to beat the Rams.

That appeared to consist of flooding the midfield and playing Istvan Ferenczi as a lone striker.

The result was a scrappy start, Northern Ireland's Grant McCann - now a goalscorer at international level - first to try his luck with a weak shot from distance.

But Derby made the most of the minimum of ball when they broke from their own area in the 11th minute, Jones playing in Barnes, whose shot was parried by Lucas, only for Jones to net the follow-up.

The game then fell back into the same disjointed pattern with which it had begun.

It was a full 15 minutes until the next serious attempt at goal, again from a Derby break, when Oakley volleyed well over.

Reid then fired over the top at the other end as Barnsley abandoned their starting formation and moved Peter Rajczi up front.

A debatable free-kick then gave top scorer Brian Howard a sight of goal from 25 yards, but he sent the ball over the bar.

So too did Macken with a header from Jones' corner as the half wound down.

Rajczi then had a great chance to level when the ball reached him at point-blank range.

But his back was to goal and he hesitated long enough to allow Derby to clear.

The first half's lack of quality was of no concern to a very large and very vocal travelling contingent, who had more reason to celebrate shortly after the restart.

A flighted free-kick was played into the box for Barnes, who looked favourite to win it with his back to goal until Lucas decided to come and claim, flattening the midfielder in the process.

Before the referee could make a ruling, the ball ran loose to Oakley, who did well to guide it first time into the empty net from 20 yards with Barnes and Lucas still on the floor.

The keeper came off far worse and was eventually carried from the field on a stretcher.

Upon the resumption, the pattern of poor free-kicks persisted when Reid sent one straight at Stephen Bywater.

The home side came closer to pulling one back when the goalkeeper narrowly beat Ferenczi to a low cross.

There was another lengthy stoppage when skipper Paul Reid went down in agony. He was unable to continue and was replaced by Neil Austin.

Ferenczi and Barnes both had shots too close to the respective goalkeepers as the game became stretched.

Bywater was finally required to produce his best when Reid arrowed Rajczi's cross goalward, forcing a great reaction stop.

There was no surprise when an additional eight minutes was announced, giving Togwell enough time to pull one back from close range and set up a nervy finish.

Derby fans made up nearly half of the 17,000 crowd and certainly had value for money. they will be hoping for a Good Friday at Leicester next week.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-31 16:54:20

Suspended Sentence for Cartoon Copper

A policeman who was watching the Disney film Finding Nemo while a prisoner hanged himself has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Pc David Stoll, 49, who was found guilty of misconduct in a public office, was jailed for six months suspended for a year.

Stoll was the custody suite warden at St Mary's Wharf police station, Derby, when Craig Boyd died in March 2004.

Judge Michael Stokes criticised the "slack" regime at the police station.

Stoll, who had 23 years' experience in the Derbyshire force, ignored hourly checks on prisoners.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court was shown CCTV video in which officers on duty at the time of Mr Boyd's death watched the Disney cartoon.

Judge Stokes told Stoll: "You have yourself accepted that the conduct of which the jury have convicted you would be 'unforgivable' on the part of a detention officer in the position you occupied."

He added: "This was far from being a properly-run custody suite.

"What we have seen is not merely a casual approach to duty but a lack of proper systems and a failure to deal properly and responsibly with detainees.

"It is not conceivable that senior officers could have been aware of the slackness and inappropriate behaviour that existed in this custody suite."

Two other officers, Sgt Nigel Rogers, 42, and Sgt Christopher Linscott, 43, were acquitted.

There use to be a saying of making the punishment fit the crime. I'm not sure what went wrong here.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-31 03:43:39

Lawyers on strike - whatever next

High Peak Magistrates Court was deserted on Wednesday last week when solicitors took part in a national protest about changes to the legal aid system

John Bunting, a partner in Bunting and Riley, commented “A lot of the reforms may work well in London, where everybody has a hatful of cases in one court, but it is hopelessly unsuitable in rural areas.”

He explained that under the duty solicitor scheme, standard fees were to be introduced for court and police station work.

Solicitors who are part of the scheme currently receive £100.80 for being on 24-hour call to the police station, but would in future receive nothing for being on call.

No payment would be made to cover a solicitor’s travelling time to a police station or the amount of time he or she was kept waiting.

“If you deal with a Buxton Police station matter which came from Ashbourne, that case goes to Derby Magistrates,” said Mr Bunting.

“If we are expected to cover that we want to be paid for getting to Derby on the two or three occasions the case takes.”

When you charge up to £200 an hour for non legal aid work what is the problem. Well actually the problem is that you still get paid when you do a crap job or lose a case. I like to think of it as legalised crime.

Needless to say I have no lawyer friends mainly because I once got a bill from a certain firm of solicitors in Derby for daring to socialise with one of the female partners after work in a Derby pub. It made prostitution seem like a bargain!

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-30 15:50:39

Derby Best Bar None

Pubs and clubs in Derby are set to become among the safest in the country thanks to a scheme aimed at making the city a major centre for nightlife.

Licensees are to subscribe to a campaign called Best Bar None, where premises will be judged on security, drug-prevention and the promotion of safe drinking.

A panel of inspectors, representing the police, Derby Community Safety Partnership and the city council, will carry out regular visits.

Premises granted Best Bar None accreditation will be given a window sticker to show that they take customer safety seriously.

Annual awards will be given out at a ceremony at Pride Park to the bars which have been judged to be the top performers.

Call me simple if you like, but shouldn't inspections such as those being suggested be done anyway. Shouldn't the authorities be making regular checks as to licenced premises continued suitability and procedures etc. Or is the subscription required to join this scheme just another tax.

I cannot believe that drinkers will be looking specifically for a window sticker that says we take customer safety seriously before they enter.

Premises that apply for accreditation will be judged on set criteria, including efforts to prevent binge-drinking and drug-taking, managing capacity and security, crime-prevention, first aid, safe use of glasses, building safety and attitude of staff.

All of the above criteria are uppermost in obtaining a licence in the first place. What planet are these people on. Do your job properly and stop dreaming up stupid ideas when you have had one too many.

Derby is generally safe but you do get violence and some idiots and a window sticker will not stop it.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-28 12:28:32