A rogue landlord has been sentenced to 10-months in prison at Chesterfield Crown Court on Monday 3 April 2023 for the state of his properties on the West Lea Estate in Clowne.

In May 2022, Mr Martin Ambler had pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and was told to expect to pay a significant amount of compensation and costs.

At the original hearing, Judge Bennett deferred sentencing and ordered Mr Ambler to:

1. instruct housing experts or a management company to inspect and provide a report on all the properties he owns within Bolsover District;
2. cooperate with Bolsover District Council to inspect all properties in his ownership in the area;
3. provide full financial information including any companies to which he is a director and to commit no further offences.

However, since this court appearance the defendant has been in breach of his criminal behaviour order and the Judge’s instructions by not providing the relevant information on a number of conditions that had been set.

Our Community Woodlands Scheme is gathering pace as another orchard has recently been planted.

Children from Whaley Thorns Primary School joined the Council’s workforce to plant a number of fruit trees on land adjacent to the school.

Complete with spades, trowels, gloves, compost, bonemeal, netting and tree guards, groups of children took it in turns to plant the sapling trees.

We caught up with the school’s Assistant Principal to find out why it was so important for the children to be involved.

For anyone suffering from or living with someone who suffers from dementia it can be a challenging and stressful experience.

But a group in Pinxton is looking to help and bring some fun and enjoyment into their lives.

Singing for the Brain brings people affected by dementia together, to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment.  

It’s been proven that singing can improve brain activity, wellbeing and mood? And you don’t need to be a good singer to benefit. We joined Ellie, who runs the group to find out more.

Did you know Tibshelf had a major impact on providing medical care for miners?

Thanks to a lottery grant, the village's historical and civic society has spent three years researching and trawling through archives and records to find out more about the history of the Tibshelf Ambulance Corp.

The Miners to Medics research project charters this amazing story and the Tibshelf Local History and Civic Society has produced a book on the story that will be launched at an exhibition to be held on Saturday 15 April in the village.

Since May 2021, nine people have died in accidental house fires across Derbyshire. The majority of these fatal fires took place in the home of someone aged over 60 and living alone.

This could be your parent, grandparent, friend or neighbour!

A 15-minute DIY Home Fire Safety Check will help identify if someone you care about is at risk of a fire in their home.

Taking just 15 minutes out of your busy day to help someone you care about and complete the simple online DIY Home Fire Safety Check, will help them live safe from the risk of fire in their home.

It's not a lot to ask, so do it today.

The Statement of Persons Nominated for the upcoming election on 4 May has now been published.

The lists show who will be standing for election for District and Parish/Town elections.