Give me a home or lose me forever!

We have issued a desperate appeal to our local residents to come forward and offer our stray dogs new homes – or some types of breed run the risk of being put to sleep!

This stark warning comes after an increase in the amount of Staffordshire Bull Terriers/Staffordshire Crosses that we have picked up recently when they are no longer wanted and turned out onto the streets by their owners.

Over the last couple of months our stray dog service has re-homed around 15 Staffordshire Bull Terriers. However, some have not been so lucky, such as ‘Cassy’ a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who was picked up by us in September and who still desperately needs a home.

We currently have 3 other Staffordshire Bull Terriers in our kennels besides Cassy and the animal sanctuaries are unable to receive and re-home any of them as they are at breaking point.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dennis Kelly said, “We are desperately appealing to anyone out there who can offer a loving and caring home to one of these animals. The last thing we want is for them to be put to sleep - but we may have no alternative. We always try and save these animals by finding them a new home, but over the past few months it has become so bad that our sanctuaries simply do not have room to keep the animals.

“So I am appealing to anyone out there who can offer a home to one of these Staffordshire bull terrier dogs, not to delay and come and speak to us today to help save one of these beautiful animals by providing them with a home they so desperately deserve.”

We are keen for would be dog owners to come forward and register their details on our re-homing register for unclaimed strays, so suitable homes can be found for dogs that become available for adoption.

If you are able to offer any of the animals in the sanctuaries a new home, please contact us immediately on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form

Date issued: 27th October 2010

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:19

Public warned over contaminated sausages

We are warning our residents about contaminated Polish sausages with dangerously high levels of a food poisoning organism called Listeria monocytogenes.

Thanks to our swift action the affected products on sale locally have been identified and removed from sale. The problem appears to be contamination at the factory in Poland. There is no evidence of any fault on the part of local retailers who have been extremely helpful and have cooperated fully with the investigation.

There have been no reported cases of anyone falling ill in the district as a result of eating the contaminated sausages and a national and international product recall is now under way.
The products in question are ‘HOME BLACK PUDDING SAUSAGE’ or ‘GRILL BLACK PUDDING SAUSAGE’ produced by a company called SOKOLOW.  These products are sold across the country and across Europe. 

The contamination was first discovered during routine checks in local shops in Bolsover district. A number of contaminated products were discovered - some with levels of Listeria up to 600 times the legal limit - and traced back to suppliers from Doncaster and London. 

But thanks to the investigation and co-ordinated response by us and our colleagues in Doncaster and London, the international scale of the problem has been uncovered. The Food Standards Agency is working with enforcement agencies in Poland to determine the cause of the contamination and withdraw any product distributed throughout the rest of Europe.

Cabinet Member for Environment Councilor Dennis Kelly, said, “Local retailers have acted in good faith, stocking and supplying the affected products. There was simply no way of them knowing they had a problem on their hands.

“Anyone who has purchased these products should either dispose of it or return it to the retailer.  
“I would like to pay tribute to the speedy actions of our officers in dealing with this threat to public health. This is a fantastic example of us working within the community and with our partners for the benefit of people locally, nationally and internationally.”

Investigations in Bolsover district are continuing but a list of the Sokolow products found to be affected so far are:

Date issued: 26th October 2010
 

Promote your sports club in new local directory

Sports clubs and physical activity groups are being encouraged to sign up to a new free directory that aims to promote sport, health and well being across North Derbyshire.

We are working in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and North East Derbyshire District Council to create the North Derbyshire Sports Club and Physical Activity Directory.

The Directory will be used to promote sports and physical activities across the whole of the region to key agencies and the general public, and will enable clubs to increase memberships as well as promote their own individual sport or activity. The Directory will also enable local authorities to provide information to clubs regarding coaching, training and funding.

Cabinet Member for Arts and Leisure, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “There are literally hundreds of different sports and activity groups operating across North Derbyshire and this directory will make it easier for the public to access what’s available in their local area and hopefully encourage people to try new sports or activities.”

Any clubs or groups interested in being featured in the directory can complete a simple online questionnaire. Hard copies of the questionnaire are also available. The deadline to complete the questionnaire is Friday 14th January 2011.

For further information please contact Sports Development on 01246 593058 or submit an enquiry form

Date issued: 26th October 2010

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:18

Residents asked to comment upon wind turbines application

Local residents in Palterton, Scarcliffe, Hillstown, Stony Houghton and Glapwell are being asked to comment upon a planning application (application reference number 10/00463/FULEA) to erect 3 wind turbines and an anemometer mast in nearby fields.

We have received a planning application from Banks Developments for the erection of 3 Wind Turbines (80m hub height; 125m high to rotor tip) and an 80m high lattice anemometer mast on fields to the east and west of the junction of Glapwell Lane with Losk Lane, Palterton.

Notices will be erected in the villages and approximately 550 households will receive letters outlining the application, giving them an opportunity to have their say about the proposals. Any other interested parties will also have the opportunity to comment about the proposed development during the statutory 21 day consultation period from 20th October 2010 to 10th November 2010.

The application proposes that the development would generate enough renewable energy every year to power more than 4,000 homes, the equivalent of almost 14% of households in Bolsover district.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dennis Kelly said, “We know this proposal has stirred up some emotion in the local community. That’s why we want local residents to have as much time and information as possible so they have all the facts in front of them and they can then make an informed judgement about it. Once we have all these comments and representations we can then take them all into consideration before we make our decision on the development.”

To make comments you can do this on-line or write to the Head of Planning and Environmental Health, Bolsover District Council, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover, Derbyshire S44 6NF quoting the application reference number 10/00463/FULEA.

Date issued: 21st October 2010

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 October 2010 09:06

Youngsters receive SHOKK treatment and get active

Over 50 pupils from the Model Village Primary School in Shirebrook became the first to use our new mobile SHOKK gyms.

The Key Stage 2 pupils were given a demonstration of the equipment before being allowed to flex their muscles, get active and use the equipment. The gym is a combination of cardiovascular, resistance and free weight equipment specifically manufactured for the youth market.

It has a number of work stations such as dumbells, box of tricks, fluid rowers, SHOKK X bikes, boxing gloves, focus pads, Vew-Do boards and target walls.

The new mobile gyms will help us to encourage more youngsters to adopt a long, active and healthy lifestyle.

Cabinet Member for Arts and Leisure, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “All the youngsters really enjoyed using the gyms and where full of energy – to start with! This new equipment aims to put the fun back into fitness and helps introduce young people to regular exercise with the aim of encouraging them to take up a more healthy and active lifestyle instead of sitting in front of the television or computer.”

It is intended to set up a junior gym at both Creswell and Kissingate Leisure Centres and also take the gym out to communities who do not have easy access to the leisure centres.

For further information on the SHOKK gym, please telephone us on 01246 593062 or submit an enquiry form

Date issued: 18th October 2010

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 11:17