Long Eaton - County Councillor

03/09/2026

Leopold Street Done! Long Eaton update

One of the roads I was determined to get resurfaced when I was elected last year was Leopold Street...

Initially, all the potholes were filled as a temporary measure while I waited for the full resurfacing to happen.

Leopold Street has now been fully resurfaced. I’ve been down it myself and it looks amazing and more importantly, it feels amazing to drive down it!

I’ve had messages from residents saying how much better the road is, which is great to hear. Granted, I got a LOT more messages when everyone was complaining about the road! Not quite so many now it’s been done, but I know you’re much happier 🙏🏽😊

Next!

02/09/2026

Speeding / racing on Fields Farm Road - why check during the day when traffic is slow?

This is just one of many videos I have showing what happens at night. Speeds are greatly in excess of 40mph, and unfortunately Fields Farm Road is being used like a racetrack.

I’m really pleased that the police have been out with their speed cameras. It’s a start, and I welcome it ... But the problem is that they’ve been out during the day. The speeding and racing I’ve been reporting is happening at night, when the road is quieter.

So please, if the police are going to monitor Fields Farm Road, can we also have some enforcement at the times when the problem is actually happening? Long Eaton Police SNT ? ?

02/09/2026

Fields Farm Road speeding update

The police have been out on Fields Farm Road with their speed cameras, following the concerns I’ve been raising about speeding in the area.

It’s a start and I’m pleased to see some action being taken.

The only issue I have is that the speeding I’ve been reporting is mainly the racing and excessive speed we’re seeing at night. The police have been out during the day, so it doesn’t really capture the problem I’m being told about by residents.

But, as I said, it’s a start. I’ll keep pushing for the issue to be looked at properly, particularly during the times when the racing is actually happening. Long Eaton Police SNT

02/09/2026

Long Eaton Town Deal: what I found out yesterday

Yesterday I went down to Rowells Drinking Emporium and met with Neil, the liaison officer for the Town Deal works.

I used the opportunity to raise a number of concerns that residents have been contacting me about.

Just to be clear, the Town Deal has nothing to do with me as a County Councillor, and I have no control over Erewash Borough Council or this project. It is an Erewash Borough Council project. The Long Eaton Borough councillors are the ones that can influence and speak with Erewash Borough Council on behalf of residents.

But residents have contacted me, so I went along to be their voice, ask the questions and raise their concerns.

The works were around three weeks behind schedule because of the weather, but I was told they have now caught that time back up and are back on schedule.

We talked about the traffic, the disruption and the impact on local businesses and residents. Obviously the work has started now, so it can’t simply be stopped or undone. The best thing is to crack on and get it finished.

But one thing that really stood out was that Neil told me none of the Erewash Borough councillors had ever been to meet with him at the public liaison meetings he holds.

I was the first councillor he had seen at one of these meetings.

31/08/2026

Long Eaton Town Deal and the current traffic

The Long Eaton Town Deal is a project of Erewash Borough Council. Its a central government-funded programme designed to invest in the regeneration of Long Eaton. This isn’t a DCC project or funded in anyway by DCC, our only role is to help them with the road closures they've requested

I'm getting a lot of residents, understandably contact me about this, but as a county councillor I can do very little. The borough councillors for Long Town centre are who residents need to contact for issues, as these councillors represent the Erewash Borough Council and have jurisdiction over their own Council.

I am very aware of the problems the traffic is causing, particularly with the schools going back soon . I have reported the concerns I have personally witnessed, along with issues raised by residents, to the highways team to see what can be done to help.

One thing we have already looked at is the sequencing of the traffic lights, and this has been improved while the town is being revamped currently being addressed.

I can't undo the Town Deal works or change anything at Erewash BC, but if there are things that Derbyshire Highways can do to improve the situation, I will absolutely push for them.

There is a direct contact for residents that Erewash and the developers have assigned their contact details are

[email protected]

and please also contact the Borough Councillors for Erewash BC

28/08/2026

FFS

Fun Friday Status

This week's highlights ...

Walking the streets at night checking street lights.

Went on interrogation mode about a play park

Emailing officers for 85th percentile recorded car speeds (I didn't know I knew that either)

Lookin down drains and sniffing them

Taking photographs of dog poo

Turning up for a meeting 1 week early (blamed a bloke for it, naturally 👍🏼)

Mithered another councillor at midnight about traffic lights being out

Got emotionally attached to a pot hole
and questioned my sanity after finding a training session on white and yellow traffic lines weirdly interesting

Sat through a pensions and a planning meeting training, no so interesting and I ate a lot of fudge

Didn't kill anyone on the 2 days I skipped coffee

Have a good Friday all

28/08/2026

Electrical Safety Opportunity

I’ve been contacted as a County Councillor for Long Eaton by Electrical Safety First to make local organisations aware of a funding opportunity.

There’s £1 million available, with grants of up to £10,000 for projects helping to improve electrical safety, replace unsafe products, tackle electrical installation issues and raise awareness.

Charities, public bodies and other registered not-for-profit organisations can apply, particularly where the project helps people who may be more vulnerable to electrical harm.

If your organisation could benefit from this, I’ve put the grants and funding link below with all the details on how to apply.

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/about-us/grants-and-funding/

Learn about Electrical Safety First's grants and funding programmes, supporting electrical safety projects and home improvements for vulnerable people.

27/08/2026

Fields Farm play park. Is this a positive update?

I've just been down to the play park on Fields Farm Road and had a word with some of the workers who are currently there.

They're digging up all the old concrete, which is being removed, and they're putting down new concrete and soil over the area. Hopefully, we'll soon see some grass growing there, which will certainly be an improvement.

But I asked why aren't we getting a new fence?

The answer I was given was, "There's no point putting a new fence up if you're getting a new park next year."

Oh... we're getting a new park next year, are we? So I asked when they'd been told that.

"Yesterday."

What a fantastic coincidence. I'm going to contact Erewash Borough Council and ask them to confirm whether this is actually the case. I may even have an email waiting for me when I get back.

After I highlight all the safety concerns, the state of the play equipment, the fencing and everything else, suddenly we're told we're getting a brand-new play park next year. A little credit where it's due here ... the officer I reported the safety and other issues this week, said there's no plans for a new park, but I reinforced the safety aspect, he took note and within 48 hours here we are. Which proves that when a councillor actually addresses an issue the right way, then action can be taken ... and it has

If a new park is what we're getting next year that's genuinely fantastic. That's exactly what I've been pushing for. But I like to hear it officially from Erewash Borough Council rather than finding out from workers on site.

Watch this space.

And just as a little footnote... I do wonder if anyone from Labour is suddenly going to start putting something on their social media about how they've "secured" a new play park for Fields Farm Estate. What a wonderful coincidence.

27/08/2026

CHECK LATEST POST FOR UPDATE

Farm Estate play park… wait until you see this.

The saga of our play park continues, and I’m going to continue pushing for results.

So, yesterday Erewash Borough Council carried out an upgrade.

And honestly… you’re going to be amazed.

Wait until you see what they’ve done to our park.

By the way, did you know? Most people didn’t. Fields Farm Estate has its very own borough councillor, who’s never been to this park, never fought for this park, and hasn’t contacted me once about the fact that I’m getting on to the council about the park that he is supposed to be responsible for.