MORNING EDITION: Concerns raised over increase of anti-social behaviour in Arnold

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Concerns raised over antisocial behaviour increase in Arnold

Concerns have been raised anti-social behaviour and public nuisance incidents are “getting worse” in Arnold after youths were seen throwing items off a church roof.

Nottinghamshire Police were called on Saturday afternoon (14) to reports of two youths who had climbed onto the roof of Arnold Methodist Church in Front Street.

The pair had thrown a number of items from the roof before they came back down.

There are calls for parents to “check where their children are” following the event and locals are concerned similar behaviour is increasing in the town.

Nottinghamshire County Councillor John Semens (Ref), who represents Arnold North, said he campaigned strongly about anti-social behaviour ahead of May 2025’s local elections.

He said: “I watched last night [17] a gang of kids trying to pull down a bus stop in Arnold. You would not walk through Arnold park at night in the school holidays.

“As a resident, this behaviour is getting worse – not massively worse – but you always see an increase in the school holidays.

“[Climbing on roofs] is quite a common stunt for them. At the back end of Front Street they like to get up there – I’ve had reports on them throwing things down to pedestrians or spitting on them.”

Cllr Semens said he has met with the police several times to ask if more officers could have a presence in the area but “the answer you get back is [not enough] resources”.

Gedling Borough Councillor Marje Paling (Lab), who is part of the Arnold Local Area Forum councillor group, said anti-social behaviour in the town has increased but acknowledged efforts to curb it had got results.

She said: “Once the dispersal notices are put up and police increase their controls – which they get to know which children are doing it – the situation tends to improve.”

Fellow Borough Councillor, Henry Wheeler (Lab), who is also part of the forum, said: “Obviously the children in question are putting themselves in very serious danger and could have fallen off the roof or through the roof with a potential fatality.

“I’d be asking questions of the parents or carers – do they know what their children are doing and where they are?

“As a professional who works with children and young people in a different role, I would argue some very serious youth diversionary activities and education are needed and support put in place for those parents who struggle to manage childrens’ behaviour.”

He also questioned how it was possible for the youths to gain access to the roof and about future prevention.

Nottinghamshire Police say neighbourhood officers are working with the Methodist Church to make the building as secure as possible.

Sergeant Alison Riley, of the Gedling Central neighbourhood policing team, said: “These young people are risking serious injury or worse every time they trespass like this.

“It is also extremely dangerous to throw projectiles from a height in this way.

“The neighbourhood team is working hard to prevent future incidents and we’d ask parents to check where their children are and make it clear to them about the risks involved.”

Lauren Monaghan
Local Democracy Reporter

💷 Conservatives promise lower council tax and more resurfaced roads in alternative county council budget

Conservative Councillors at Nottinghamshire County Council have formally submitted their Alternative Budget ahead of Full Council next Thursday (26).

At the centre of their proposals is a £90 million highways package over three years designed to tackle the condition of Nottinghamshire’s roads head-on. This includes a £20 million winter resurfacing and resilience programme to ensure that all reactive winter repairs and Category 1 defects are fixed right first time rather than repeatedly patched.

They say the focus would be on full structural resurfacing of damaged residential streets, combined with drainage renewal and flood mitigation to prevent repeat failures caused by water ingress and severe weather.

Alongside major highways investment, the Conservatives say their Budget proposals would reduce Reform’s proposed Council Tax rise from 3.99% to a below inflation 2.99%.

Conservative Councillors argue that, with the Council receiving an additional £78 million in Government funding this year, there is scope to ease the burden on residents while still investing in frontline priorities.

They have also commited capital investment to deliver new SEND hubs across Nottinghamshire. These hubs they say will increase local specialist capacity, reduce the need for long-distance placements, help keep children integrated within local school settings and provide support to those currently waiting for appropriate provision.

Cllr Sam Smith, Conservative Leader of the Opposition unveiled the new budget proposal yesterday and called Reform’s proposals 'a broken promise budge'.

"They said they would freeze Council Tax. Instead, they’re demanding £20 million more with a 3.99% increase ," he said.

"This is after receiving a £78 million boost in funding from Government.

"Instead, our Conservative alternative budget focuses on putting money into tarmac, not leaving it sitting in the bank.

"We’ll prioritise resurfacing on residential streets while Reform patch up their car park and we’re giving £5 million back to residents this year. Even Labour-run Nottingham City Council – with all of its financial problems – have managed a lower Council Tax increase than Reform.

"If they can’t deliver on their promises with this level of extra Government funding, residents are right to ask what exactly Reform were elected to do?”

Cllr Stuart Bestwick, is the Conservative Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance. He said: “Reform promised bold change. What they’ve delivered is a damp squib budget that falls well short of that promise – limited in ambition and lacking fresh thinking.

"Our Alternative Budget is fully costed, responsible and focused squarely on residents’ priorities - £90 million investment in highways, a £5 million saving for taxpayers, and practical reform in social care that promotes independence and reduces long-term financial pressures. It is a serious, deliverable plan that demonstrates we can invest more while asking residents to pay less.”

The Conservative alternative Budget proposals will be debated at Full Council on Thursday 26th February 2026.

🌳 Local heritage to be honoured during Sherwood Forest Day

Communities across Nottinghamshire will come together this Friday to celebrate the second annual Sherwood Forest Day, marking a growing tradition that honours the forest’s rich heritage, enduring legends, and living landscape.

Following the success of the inaugural event, this year’s programme has been developed in partnership with the Sherwood Forest Trust and the Medieval Sheriff of Nottingham, Richard Townsley.

A number of communities in Gedling borough are getting involved for the first time this year.

The day begins with a Small Business Breakfast networking event, bringing together local enterprises with Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward. Local businesses have been invited to connect, collaborate and explore opportunities for growth in and around Sherwood.

The morning continues with an invitation for the community to visit Sherwood’s Community Tree Nursery and learn more about the work underway to nurture the forest’s future and receive free trees grown from seed collected by local volunteers

At 12 noon, Proclamations will be delivered across Nottinghamshire, bringing centuries of history to life and formally recognising Sherwood Forest’s national importance at the following locations in Gedling borough...

• Arnold The AMP, Market Place, Arnold
• Calverton Parish Council
• Burton Joyce Parish Council Office Old School Building, Main Street, Burton Joyce
• Ravenshead Village Hall with plaque unveiling and hoist of flag
• Woodborough Governors field opposite the Four bells proclamation with ex Forest European Cup Winner, Paul Hart

Throughout the day, new commemorative plaques will be unveiled at key sites, highlighting the forest’s extraordinary heritage, biodiversity and cultural impact. Each plaque carries a clear message: Sherwood matters - and it must be protected.

Community tree planting will also take place with volunteers, schools and local organisations quite literally putting roots in the ground. Trees will be planted to strengthen habitats, support wildlife and secure the forest for generations to come.

Michelle Welsh MP said: “As the Member of Parliament for Sherwood Forest, I am incredibly proud to see our community come together to celebrate. Now in its second year, Sherwood Forest Day is fast becoming a fixture in the county calendar. It reflects the pride we share in our history, our environment and our determination to protect and strengthen Sherwood for generations to come.”

Helen Sullivan, CEO of Sherwood Forest, said: “Since 1995, our charity has worked to protect, preserve, and celebrate this iconic forest. I’m so pleased that we now have a day dedicated to bringing people together to celebrate their place in the forest, protect what’s left, and help it thrive for the future.”

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Looking out the window so you don't have to...

Today there will be early rain that will clear during the morning. It will then be drier but remain cloudy or overcast during the afternoon. The winds will gradually ease though the afternoon. Tonight it will remain overcast and settled with some patchy light rain. The wind will become light and variable.

Tomorrow, cloud will thicken and it will then turn windy as a band of rain moves though from the west, followed by showers. The wind will also freshen during the day.