NOTTINGHAM'S TOURISM IS 'BOOMING'

A leading travel guide has given Nottingham a great write-up and is urging people to holiday in the city.

The Lonely Planet's latest guide to Great Britain says Nottingham's cultural side it 'booming' and there is a 'dynamic mix of medieval and modern'.

Well, hear some more on this .... by clicking on the link below!

http://tinyurl.com/omox7b

GETTING NOTTINGHAM 'ON-YER-BIKE'

Commuters in Nottingham are being urged to 'get-on-ya-bike'.

The City Council launched a 'Bike To Work' scheme on Thursday - and are hoping to get more people cycling.

Hear more.... here!

http://tinyurl.com/okvqle

MAN FOUND DEAD IN BUNGALOW FIRE

A man has died in a fire in Nottinghamshire earlier this morning.

He became trapped inside after flames broke out at an address in Woodborough.

Here more about this story here...

http://tinyurl.com/pbfa65

WEIGHT LOSS PILL IS 'DANGEROUS'

New weight loss pill Alli has been on sale for around a fortnight in Nottingham and the rest of the UK.

People here are not too sure about it though... And some think it is dangerous.

Click here for more...

http://wordonthestreetnottingham.podbean.com/mf/web/dsdsik/Alli_PKG.mp3

GREEN FINGERED IN NOTTS...

Waste ground in a part of Nottingham’s being used to plant a fruit orchard.

It’s hoped it’ll keep food growing in the local community.

Here more... Here!

http://tinyurl.com/d7xz54

MALE CONTRACEPTIVE 'BETTER THAN PILL'

A male contraceptive injection’s a step closer to reality today.

According to Chinese researchers, the jab is 99 per cent effective – meaning it will work better than the female contraceptive pill and even condoms.

Scientists in Beijing gave 1000 men the injection over a two year period, and only one in one hundred men conceived with their partners.

Men in Nottingham have got mixed feelings about the research though.

Forty year old David Green from Sneinton said: "It's a bit unusual. I think I'm more traditional with my partner and follow traditional methods."

Thirty-six year old John Harris from Arnold said: "I don't know the percentage of men who'd be willing to take it up. But it's a good idea and I would."

Richard Bowler, from Cropwell Bishop reckons it'll take the pressure off the woman. "If I was in a relationship I'd definitely use it. It gives men a bit more responsibility, rather than just relying on the woman all the time."

GET INVOLVED - HAVE YOUR SAY...

Well, here on Word on The Street we're undertaking a poll...

Men can answer here.... http://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/index.php?pid=1241518949

And women can answer here... http://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/poll_nf.php?pid=1241554084

Stay tuned to Word on the Street for a full report...

GETTING FRUITY IN RADFORD

Waste ground in a part of Nottingham’s being used to plant a fruit orchard.

It’s hoped it’ll keep food growing in the local community.

The new fruit orchard in the Radford area of the city was planted by environment organisation Sprout just last Thursday.

They say the trees will eventually provide free fruit to the local community in about five years.

Environmental Development Worker Rachel Wicks reckons it will benefit the community. She said: "The idea is to provide free fruit for local people in a public space, and to encourage people to eat more fruit.

"Radford is an area where there are lots of people on low income. They're the sorts of people who I think could benefit from the free fruit being available."

The orchard is on Hartley Road. Radford residents are hopeful the orchard will work.

Twenty-nine year old young mum Rosie Lee said: "Hopefully it won't be vandalised before the trees start beearing fruit. I do hope it will work."

Student Robert Ward said: "It's for the local community and stuff so I hope people will stop and think that it's one thing that we shouldn't trash."

Local businesses have got mixed feelings about it though.

Jackie Hobson from the United Carpets and Beds store directly next to the land reckons it could be vandalised with the trouble her business has had.

"The other day we had a young lady in who was pregnant. The next thing we knew there was a stone through the window," she said.

"I heard they set the soil for the trees alight. You don't seem to be able to leave anything there without something happening to it."

Whatever the outcome of the new trees, Sprout hope to inspire other people around the city to plant new trees - and get their fingers green.

• For more info on the Sprout and getting involved visit http://sproutnottingham.org.uk/

Above: the United carpets and Bed store directly next to the orchard site.

SCHOOL PLANS TO BRING IN THE KIDS

A Nottinghamshire school is planning to let pupils drop English and Maths to stop it from closing.

Dayncourt Secondary School in Radcliffe-on-Trent could also open on Saturdays and allow pupils to start their day at 2pm in the afternoon.

The school’s been facing closure after numbers dropped by 400 since 2002. That has lead to millions of pounds in funding losses.

The County Council is planning to decide on the plans on Tuesday.

INVESTED MONEY 'UNLIKELY TO RETURN'

Nottingham is unlikely to get all the money back invested into the collapsed Icelandic banks.

A report by the Audit Commission has cleared the City Council for negligence and not spotting the collapse.

The City Council invested £42million - the second highest amount invested from a British local authority.

Council press officer Stephan Richeux says the Council are doing all they can.

"The forty-two million pounds remains in Iceland. We're hopful and the Local Government Association are hopeful too that substantial amounts of that money are returned over time.

"It's not likely to be any time soon and it's not really likely to be all of it. But we are working hard with the LGA to get it back."

MORE YOUTH FACILITIES NEEDED

Youths in Nottingham need more access to clubs and facilities according to a Government Minister.

The announcement came during a conference held in the city on Thursday.

According to Beverley Hughes the Minister of State for Children and Young People – 1.4% cent of youth clubs are open at the weekend in Nottingham – compared with a national average of 2.5%

She reckons more should be done. She said: "We've got to bring youth services and facilities into the twenty-first century and have them open when they're going to benefit young people and when they want to use them."

ABOVE: Beverley Hughes MP
SUCCESSFUL

The city’s youth agree too.

Bilborough teenager Ashraf Reid is on Nottingham’s Youth Council. He reckons the new five million pound NGY youth centre willl help to curb youth crime.

"I think it'll be really successful," he said. "It will be in the middle of the city centre and be easier for everyone.

"Because youth clubs are in different areas and people from Radford would want to go to the club in St. Ann's, they'd probably get beaten up because it's like a sort of territorialism.

"I think there should be a stop to it to be honest."

Recorded youth crime has fallen by a quarter over the last four years in the city.

The Minister said the Government was committed to opening new youth centres as a part of rehabilitating young offenders

She said: "I want to make to clear too, that we're clear on custody being a last resort for offenders who have committed serious and violent crimes. And when other options wouldn't protect the public."

SAVING THE LIVES OF TUMOUR SUFFERERS

Scientist’s at the University of Nottingham have uncovered vital new clues into brain tumours that affect children.

The research could save 500 children’s lives each year.

Central Nervous System Primitive Neuroectodermal tumours affect and kill more than sixty per cent of young sufferers.

But researchers have found that a genetic pathway is active when the cancer is developing.

Tumour Research Centre Doctor Hazel Rogers reckons it could mean better treatment for sufferers.

She said: "There is a lot we still don't know yet but uncovering this clue into how the brain tumour develops is a step in the right direction."

MOTHER OF STABBED TEEN SPEAKS OUT

The mother of murdered Nottingham teenage burglar Tyler Juett has spoken out over the death of her son.

The seventeen year old was stabbed and killed after breaking into a house on the Heathfield Estate in old Basford.

Many tributes and memorial web pages set up for Tyler have turned cold with messages calling his murderer a ‘hero’.

But his mother Michelle has spoken out, saying her son was a cheeky but caring and loving boy whowas happy to help anyone.

"I am absolutely devastated by what's happened. I still can't believe it," she told Nottingham's Evening Post.

PRINGLE POSTER PRANK AT COLLEGE

A Nottingham college slammed behaviour today by pranksters who stuck a poster of a Pringles crisp ad holding a gun on one of their exterior walls.

The poster - which also had the "once you pop..." slogan on it was quickly taken down early this morning after it was found at Castle College's Maid Marian Way campus.

A spokesperson for the college said the behaviour was entirely unnacceptable - particularly after fifteen school children were shot dead in Germany last Wednesday March 11.

The college's caretaker, Roy Hallam, had the job of taking the 15 feet high poster down.

He said: "To be honest, I didn't think anything of it at first. But, obviously other's did because my phone was red hot with people saying 'get it down, get it down, we want it down.'

"I thought it was students just having a prank. At least it's down now."

MORE JOB DISPUTES

LEFT: Workers protest at Staythorpe Power Station in January

There could be more disputes in Nottinghamshire in the British jobs for British workers row.

The European Union have voted in favour of new rules to allow British companies to hire foreign workers, meaning that British worker's in Newark and around the country may not be able to work to build Staythorpe Power station.

Officials at the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg have voted 578 to 72 in favour of a report which will enable companies to have official registered offices in other countries.

It would mean that UK companies would be able to hire foreign workersfor contracts under a Collective Agreement meaning the workers would have to be paid the UK minimum wage.

If the ruling is passed it would mean Trade Unions wouldn’t be able to intervene.

GREEN BELT SAVED

Plans to build on Nottinghamshire’s green-belt land have been dropped.

The land originally banned from being built on has been threatened with development since 2007.

A scheme began to look at more than twenty potential sites around the city after a Government planning inspection into building new homes.

The Government’s now rejected the recommendation and has suggested a review of land in already built up areas such as Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Hucknall.

LIAM MUNN'S FATHER CHARGED

The father, brother and cousin of late teenager Liam Munn have all been charged with affray.

Liam was killed at Nottingham's Halo night club on January 18th.

His father - forty four year old Karl Munn was charged on Tuesday night after his arrest on Sunday along with Liam’s twenty-one year old brother Ryan and three other men, including his cousin Lionel Ainsworth - a twenty one year old Huddersfield Town footballer.

The charges all relate to an incident in Carlton last Thursday.

Liam’s brother has been released on police bail to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court until March 20th.

SNUG REFUSED

One of Nottingham's hottest night venues has been refused a license to host lap, pole and table dancing shows.

Nottingham City Council refused Snug Lounge Bar's application after three objections from Police.

Club directors apparently told the City Council they had been looking to bring in international burlesque acts like Dita von Teese. But the license has been refused on the grounds of preventing public nuisance, crime and disorder.

BLOOD FOR THOUGHT

There are calls today for the National Blood Service to re-think its policy on gay and bisexual men.

Currently, the service excludes men who have sex with other men from donating blood as they are seen as a high-risk portion of the population. As they may be more likely to catch diseases such as HIV.

This has been met with criticism though. Sam Douthwaite, President of Nottingham Trent University's NTU Pride society, reckons the rule is discriminatory.

He said: "I think it's a heavily outdated policy. It's simply ridiculous - they are discriminating against a part of the population for no good reason.

"AIDS is just as likely to come from other people as it is from gay and bisexual men. And it isn't fair to discriminate and marginalise us purely based on the fact of who we have sex with."

Craig Taylor, spokesperson for the Blood Service says this is to make sure the blood used in hospitals is safe though.

"Statistically, men who have sex with men are more likely to contract blood borne diseases such as HIV. Therefore we ask them not to give blood.

"The guidelines are in place to exclude high-risk groups so that we can make sure the blood is safe."

TRAM SATISFACTION

It seems that we are more than satisfied with the Nottingham tram network.

According to an Independent survey carried out last autumn, 92% of customers said they were more than satisfied with the Station Street to Hucknall and Pheonix Park services.

It also says 89% of people are in favour of developing the network to other areas of the city, including the proposed Clifton and Chilwell lines.

The survey set out to find out about customer satisfaction, awareness and useage of the tram network.

The tram network is going to be five years old on March 9th.

CRASH DRIVER TESTS NEGATIVE

Tests for drugs and alcohol on two drivers who died in a head on crash in Nottinghamshire have proved negative.

19 year old Ross Johnson, 17 year old Thomas Hudson and 18 year olds Jay Thompson and Josh Drinkwater all from the Mansfield area were killed on the A614 near Bilsthorpe on February 13th.

Edwinstowe couple Jonathon and Christine Bray were also in the crash.

Tests on Ross Johnson and Jonathon Bray were confirmed negative by Nottinghamshire Police.

Inquests into the deaths concluded that all six were probably dead before the cars caught fire after colliding.

MANSLAUGHTER MAN SENTENCED

A man who stabbed his victim repeatedly has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Twenty-five year old Pascal Simpson of Fradley Close, Bulwell was found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court in January of manslaughter when he killed twenty five year old Mark Beard outside a house on the Bulwell Hall Estate.

He had stabbed his victim four times in the back and chest during the incident and buried the weapon in an alleyway before handing himself into the police on July 9th.

FACE-TO-FACEBOOK?

According to Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg - there is 175 million of us on the social networking site.

But an American psychologist has claimed we should get off Facebook as it could be damaging to our health.

His comments have been met with criticism in Nottingham.

Dr Aric Sigman says the amount of time we spend with each other face-to-face has slumped
dramatically and that we could be missing out on a key hormone that is triggered during this interaction.

He believes Facebook's part of a worrying trend towards isolation. He said: "There are some people who are naturally shy and don't want to mix with people. That will always be the case.

"But, I think some of the new technologies like email and social networking have in many ways encouraged them to be more shy and more reclusive."

NOTTS SO SURE

Psychologist Maria Kotogianni from Nottingham Trent University researches Cyber Psychology. She reckons people’re quick to criticise new technologies.

"I believe whenever new technologies come out, there is always a plathora of criticism. It was the same with computers and mobile phones.

"If Dr Sigman is correct, then there would be a lot of bars and cafes failing. I think whatever the choice, people will always lean towards face-to-face contact and meet people to have fun with."

Graphic Design Student and Facebook user Daniel Simkins is not too sure either.

"I use it just to arrange something with my friends and then go out and do stuff. Although I guess you always see the odd people who are always on there - so I guess it has the possibility to be addictive."

KNIFE NOTTINGHAM

An area of Nottingham’s got the highest rate for hospital admissions from knife incidents.

Yesterday the Queens Medical Centre revealed that they treated nearly 400 patients stabbed or injured by a knife between January 2004 and September 2008.

Fifty of these were from the NG7 area- which includes Radford, Forest Fields and Hyson Green – a higher rate than anywhere else in the city.

The St. Ann's and Mapperley areas were second - with forty-eight cases.

A Night of Lights.

An event aimed at getting all age groups into Nottingham’s City Centre was a success.

Friday’s ‘Light Night’, held by the City Council, included an outdoor disco, live performances from college bands and the re-opening of the Nottingham Eye – to name but a few events.

It’s the second year the event’s been held and aims to get people out who wouldn’t normally come out on a Friday evening.

Julie from Netherfield said the event was a good family event. “You can bring your kids along. There should be more things like this happening in Nottingham. Youngsters can come out and not worry about trouble.”

Kate from Carlton agreed. She said: “the atmosphere is great. There’s a lot of support to make sure the event goes well, so I think it makes it feels safer.”

The City Council's Arts Officer, Sharon Scaniglia said the idea was about lighting up the city and showing it in a different way.

“Nottingham is a good city and it’s only a perception of it being unsafe.”

“It’s great to see people you wouldn’t normally see. You wouldn’t normally see family’s and older couples in the city on a Friday night. When there’s more people in the city, and people from different age groups, then people don’t run around drunk and abusive.”

GRAFFITI MAN JAILED

One of Nottingham's key players in graffiti art's been put behind bars yesterday.

Radford man, Dominic Luke-Clarke - better known as Smokey - was on trial for breaching his ASBO 5 times. Last February he was banned from public with spray cans, paint, ink, dye or marker pen.

But he admitted to breaching his ASBO. Leaving 'tags' across city walls, skips, bus shelters and even on the window of a tram.

Smokey was jailed for four and a half months at Nottingham Magistrates Court - believed to be the longest sentence for graffiti in the city.

The cost of removing the 23 year old's graffiti is thought to be into thousands of pounds.

GET YA BIDS IN FOR QUIDS

Ever wanted to spend £5000?

Well, Nottingham City Council're giving young people aged 16 to 24 a chance to have a share to spend on community projects.

Their ‘Bids For Quids’ campaigns aiming to get young people with a great idea to get involved in their community.

And get themselves between £100 and £500 to help.

If you’ve got an idea for a local youth project or a sports club that needs new facilities or kit then the City Council want to hear from you beforethe end of the month.

You can apply through the Youth Arrow or online at Young Nottingham – click the link …. http://gossweb.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/nottingham/index.aspx?articleid=4293

MAN ARRESTED IN CITY CENTRE

A man’s been arrested in Nottingham city centre after police received reports someone was carrying a gun.

Firearm officers were called to Optical Express on Listergate around 2.30pm this afternoon (Tuesday 10th).

Eyewitnesses said police came down Listergate and from through the Broadmarsh, pulling their guns out on the man.

No weapon was recovered from the man, but he’s being kept in police custody.