Man appears in court after drugs seized during Arnold car stop

Good morning 🌅 Welcome to Thursday! Here's your daily email updating you on the latest news and information from across Gedling borough. See you tomorrow!

🚔 Suspected dealer stopped by police whilst driving through Arnold

A suspected drug dealer has appeared in court after police seized dozens of wraps of heroin and cocaine following a car stop in Arnold.

Officers followed the vehicle of interest and pulled it over in Mansfield Road at around 10pm on Friday (6).

A suspect was detained after a brief foot chase, and the stash of drugs was recovered following searches.

Officers also seized multiple mobile phones and cash after searching the car.

David Onigbanjo, aged 26, of Chestnut Grove, Nottingham, has been charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (9) and was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on 7 April 2026.

Detective Inspector Paul Shortt, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Mobile patrols and car stops of this nature allow us to crackdown on anyone using the county’s road network to transport drugs.

“Uniformed officers and detectives have liaised closely to ensure the suspect in this stop was charged and placed before the courts.”

⚠️ Heads up...

🌤️ Weather: Today will be windy and mostly dry until the mid-afternoon with brighter intervals. Showers will become more widespread from mid-afternoon, ahead of a band of very heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. Tonight will see a heavy, gusty rain band clearing by midnight. Clear spells and wintry showers will follow and it will then turn colder. There could be some patchy frost by dawn.

🛣️ Roadworks: These works will be taking place today on the following roads: Arnold Lane, Gedling; Breck Hill Road, Woodthorpe; Carlton Hill, Carlton; Emerys Road, Gedling, Arnot Hill Road, Arnold; Bonner Lane, Calverton; Bonner Lane, Calverton; Carnarvon Street, Netherfield; Dalbeattie Close, Arnold; Dereham; Douglas Avenue, Carlton; Elmhurst Avenue, Mapperley; Foxwood Lane, Woodborough; Killisick Road, Arnold; Main Road, Ravenshead (road closure); Main Street, Woodborough; Parry Way, Arnold; Plains Farm Close, Arnold; Smalls Croft, Woodborough

🤔 Trivia: The All Hallows' Church spire is the second highest in Nottinghamshire after St Mary Magdalene, Newark - but how high is it? a) 70 ft b) 80 ft c) 90 ft

✅ Green light for Carlton Active as council moves forward with major health and leisure transformation 

Plans for Carlton Active, the council's proposed new health, wellbeing and leisure hub for the borough, have moved a significant forward after a council committee voted in favour of progressing the project on March 9. 

The proposed development will create a state-of-the-art health and leisure centre, on the Richard Herrod site, replacing ageing facilities with modern spaces designed around community wellbeing and active lifestyles. 

The council say the project has been developed with a focus on improving long-term health outcomes and encouraging more residents to be physically active. 

So, what do the proposed plans for the new centre actually include?

Plans reveal the new centre would accommodate the following...

• An eight-lane main swimming pool 
• A dedicated teaching pool to support learn-to-swim programmes 
• A large gym 
• Dedicated exercise studios enabling group wellbeing activities A sauna and steam room 
• An assisted exercise suite designed for rehabilitation and active ageing 
• Adventure soft play facilities for younger visitors 
• Flexible community spaces for events, youth services and health and wellbeing activities 
• A new café and social hub providing social connection for residents 
• Modern changing facilities and accessible design throughout 

The council say they want the new centre to become more of a hub supporting everything from children’s swimming and play activities, fitness classes, accessible gym sessions as well as community events and social activities. 

Specialist equipment designed for active ageing and rehabilitation will also be installed to help residents recovering from illness or managing long-term health conditions to exercise safely in a supportive environment. 

The facility will also provide programmes offering support for people living with mobility issues, disabilities and long-term conditions, alongside targeted health referral initiatives such as cardiac rehabilitation support and physical activity programmes. 

During the development of the latest proposals, the council listened to feedback from a wide range of user groups, including those who currently use facilities such as the Richard Herrod Centre and Carlton Forum Leisure Centre, as well as those who don’t currently the facilities to help shape the plans.

The Authority said detailed feasibility work also carried out revealed that incorporating a bowls hall within the development would significantly increase construction costs and reduce space for the facilities that are most in demand by residents, including swimming and fitness. 

The council now plan to continue talking with all user groups as the project progresses to ensure the centre reflects the needs of the community. 

Cllr Henry Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Lifestyles, Health and Wellbeing at Gedling Borough Council, said: “Carlton Active represents one of the most ambitious investments in health and wellbeing our borough has seen in decades. 

"This project is about much more than replacing an ageing building. It is about creating a modern, accessible space where people of all ages can improve their health, stay active and connect with their community. 

"From swimming and fitness to rehabilitation programmes and community activities, Carlton Active will provide facilities that support thousands of residents every year. 

"We know how important leisure facilities are to people’s daily lives and we are committed to delivering a centre that meets the needs of current and future generations.” 

The project will now continue through the next stages of design and planning and the council hope make a decision on when to start construction of the new centre later this year. 

Cllr Andy Meads recently shared his thoughts on proposals for the new centre with our readers in this article.

👨‍💼 Businesses invited to celebrate success and explore new opportunities in Gedling 

Local businesses from across the borough are being invited to attend the Gedling Business Support Network event on Friday, March 20, and discuss new opportunities for growth. 

The event will take place from 9.30am - 12pm at The Richard Herrod Centre and aims to bring together members from the borough's business community, council leaders and corporate partners to share the positive impact made by the borough’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) business support programme. 

Several grant recipients will share their experiences during the event, outlining how the funding has supported their journey and the difference it has made to their businesses. 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from industry specialists and connect with other local businesses, gaining valuable insights into procurement opportunities, collaboration and becoming supply-chain ready.

The event will include networking opportunities, case studies and practical advice for businesses looking to expand and develop. 

Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy, said: “Gedling has a growing community of innovative and ambitious businesses, and it’s fantastic to see the real impact that our UKSPF-funded programme is having across the borough. 

"This event is a chance to celebrate the achievements of local businesses who have embraced new opportunities, invested in their futures and contributed to a stronger local economy. It’s also an opportunity for us to bring people together, share knowledge and ensure that businesses of all sizes continue to have access to the support they need to thrive.”

Businesses interested in attending can register via Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/4bKR5y2 

Places are limited and early registration is encouraged. 

📷 Retro pic of the day...

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