MORNING EDITION: Tyre business repairing more than 100 pothole-damaged wheels every month

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🛞 Tyre business say they are repairing more than 100 pothole-damaged wheels every month

The owner of a tyre business in Nottingham says his workshop is having to do at least five repairs or replacements every day due to local roads filled with potholes.

Shayne Demera, the owner of Treadmark in Trent Lane, has called on the council to fix the roads effectively, with dozens of people turning up at his workshop every week with pothole-related damage to their wheels.

According to the RAC, it is estimated that, on average, there are around six potholes per mile on council-controlled roads across England and Wales.

Pothole-related breakdowns have also been increasing year on year.

“We are doing at least five wheels a day,” he said.

“Repairs like cracks, bends, buckles, popped tyres, people stranded at the side of roads. We are going out to them, helping put spare wheels on the car just to get them mobile again, just because of the holes in the roads.

“Over the last year and a half to two years, we’ve just seen it expand, the work expanding within the repairing side of the business.

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“It is sad. We would rather not repair a wheel. It does weaken the structure of the wheel, but it does get people out of a sticky situation.

“Don’t temporarily fix it. Take the road up and lay it properly. You see the council lads out there, no disrespect to them because they are just doing their job, but they are just filling the holes and tapping it down. You can’t do that. With the moisture under that, it is just going to crumble.

“It is really bad. It is definitely solvable, but they have got to solve it in the right way. It needs taking back up in sections, bit by bit. You can’t just fill them. I know this because our old yard had a lot of holes there. We used to fill it with tarmac and it would last six months, and that isn’t a road.

“Councils are wasting money. They may as well do it correctly and do it once.”

His comments come after a number of Nottinghamshire MPs jointly wrote a letter to Nottinghamshire County Council’s chief executive, Adrian Smith, calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the state of the county’s roads.

“With roads in such poor condition, our constituents are seeking reassurance that swift action will be taken to address their concerns,” the letter says.

Mick Barton (Ref), the leader of the council, said in February: “We’ve got a big problem with potholes and the state of the roads at the minute. We know it is from a couple of decades of lack of funding, but we are getting on with the job. We know we’ve got to put it right.

“We are looking at new equipment which will hopefully give us good news in the next couple of weeks. This spring, we are starting a full programme to fix the roads, with at least 10 teams carrying out hot-boxing and permanent fixes. We’ve got a full programme of works next winter as well, but you will see some massive improvements this spring, summer and autumn.”

The East Midlands Combined County Authority, which gets money from the Government to give out to member councils, announced in January it would be allocating £121m to its four authorities for highways maintenance, with £8m for both Derby and Nottingham, £46.9m for Nottinghamshire and £58m for Derbyshire.

The county council added it is planning to invest an additional £20.4 million in revenue funding.

Under the Government’s new local road maintenance ratings, both Nottinghamshire and Nottingham were given an amber rating for condition and best practice, but green for spending.

Joe Locker,
Local Democracy Service

⛔ Bakery business to shut doors on Arnold store 'where it all began'

A bakery in Arnold has announced they will be closing down their store in the town at the end of the month due to rising costs.

The Sweet House Bakery will pull down the shutters on their Arnold store for the last time on Saturday, February 28.

The bakery has a premises in Colwick and this will stay open.

The news was announced by owners earlier thos week on social media.

In a post they wrote: "With heavy hearts, we’re sharing that our very first shop in Arnold will be closing. We’ve tried everything we can, but we’ve been unable to negotiate a workable lease and the shop is no longer fit for purpose, and with the continued rise in costs we have to make decisions that protect the future of our business.

Walking away from our first venture is heartbreaking. That little shop holds so many memories — the nerves of opening day, the laughter, the chaos, and all the familiar faces who became part of our everyday life.

"Arnold is where so much of our journey began, and leaving it behind is not something we ever imagined doing.

"But sometimes loving your business means making the tough decisions, even when they hurt. And right now, this is what gives us the best chance to keep moving forward."

Their Colwick store will remain open Wednesday–Saturday between 10am–3pm and the bakery will also be offering free delivery to all NG5 postcodes.

They added:"We are so incredibly grateful to every single person who supported us at 116 Coppice Road. Your kindness, chats, and loyalty meant more than you’ll ever know.

"We will miss seeing our Arnold regulars more than words can say."

📰 LOOKING BACK: Breach of promise to Calverton girl made national news headlines

Local author and historian Bob Massey shares the story of Bestwood Lodge servant girl Mary Cooper – a maid who went from making beds to making headlines…

Mary Cooper was born in Calverton back in 1851 and at 19 she became a servant at Bestwood Lodge.

In the course of her duties in the kitchen she met William Foster who was a farmer and market gardener at Gringley on the Hill in north Nottinghamshire.

William delivered vegetables to the lodge and they became friends.

Mary also met James Ramm who she married in 1876. However after about a year they separated and James joined the army. This was short lived as he deserted the following year. He made no contact with Mary, their friends or family and she never heard from him again.

Mary continued in service becoming housemaid to Fredrick Topham, a lace manufacturer, at his house in Wellington Square, Lenton. It was here in 1887, now 36, she again made the acquaintance of William Foster. Foster started to court her as she considered herself free, having heard nothing of her husband for 10 years.

By 1889, Cooper had moved back to Calverton and William proposed. Mary accepted, on condition that they consult a solicitor to find out about her husband. They discovered that as noone had heard from him for more than seven years he was considered legally dead, so William and Mary were free to marry.  Divorce was just about impossible at that time.

Plans went ahead for the wedding, with Mary constantly visiting William and staying with him. They exchanged many letters where William professed his love and his desire to marry Mary.

On June 25, 1889, Mary and her sister visited William to make the final arrangements for the wedding – or so they thought. To their great surprise, William made the shock announcement that he had just married someone else! Stunned – they both left very distressed.

Mary soon discovered she was pregnant with William’s child, so took him to court for breach of promise.

From at least the Middle Ages until the early 20th century, a man’s promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract. If the man were to subsequently change his mind, he would be said to be in “breach” of this promise and subject to litigation for damages.

William did not defend the case, in fact he did not even appear in court.

With witness evidence and William’s letters, Justice Stephens and the jury soon found in Mary’s favour.

The Judge stated that William was well aware of Mary’s marriage and all the facts surrounding the case and that her husband had been declared dead so he had no grounds for going back on his promise. He had treated her very badly taking advantage of her and leading her on when he also had some one else to whom he was paying attention.

The judge therefore awarded damages of £30 with full court costs stating that she would also have a strong case for paternity of the child.

• You can read more about this story and many more in Snippets from History Vol 3 by Bob Massey. All three books are available from The Bookcase in Main Street, Lowdham; Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham and MSR New in Front Street, Arnold. For more information email: bob.m.massey@gmail.com

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

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

Today there will be outbreaks of rain, perhaps heavy with brighter spells following during the afternoon. A more organised band of heavy and blustery rain likely in the late afternoon. Tonight, there will be evening showers then clear spells possible for a time. However cloud will soon thicken with some rain likely after midnight. Staying mild, but also breezy.

Saturday will see early rain easing with brighter or sunny spells developing. Cloud then thickening after midday, with some rain possible. Winds will be mild but breezy.

Early rain will clear on Sunday, with brighter or sunny spells later.