In this newsletter:

• Early May bank holiday bin collections

• Are you ready to vote on Thursday 2 May?

• Bramcote Hills Park play area to spring into new life with £187,632 in funding

• The Mayor's Silent Auction is now live!

• The Water Vole Recovery Project

• Bring your stall to Hemlock Happening

Early May bank holiday bin collections

Due to the upcoming Early May bank holiday, there will be some changes to your bin collection days.

From Monday 6 May your bin collection day will roll forward one day, meaning that it will be collected a day later than your normal collection. Your collection day for that week has been detailed below.

To ensure that your bin is collected, please place it by the kerbside by 6.30am on the day of collection.

For a full list of opening times, check our website.

View opening hours

Are you ready to vote on Thursday 2 May?

Elections are taking place in Broxtowe next Thursday 2 May for:

• Police and Crime Commissioner
• Combined Authority Mayor
• Chetwynd: Toton and Chilwell Neighbourhood Plan Referendum
• Attenborough and Chilwell East Borough Ward By-Election

Voting at a polling station

If you're voting at a polling station on Thursday you will need to show photo ID to cast your vote. You can check all accepted forms of ID online.

Handing in of postal votes

Completed postal votes can now only be accepted if:

• they are returned via Royal Mail
• or they are ‘handed in’ at a polling station or the Council Offices and are accompanied by a completed ‘return of postal voting documents’ form. 

Any postal votes that are left at a polling station or the Council Offices without a completed form must be rejected.

There is also a limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in - voters will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors plus their own. 

If you have any questions about postal voting please contact Electoral Services on 0115 917 3294 or elections@broxtowe.gov.uk

Emergency proxy vote

If the proxy vote deadline has passed you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if any of the following apply:

• you cannot vote in person because of a medical emergency or disability
• you cannot vote in person because of your employment
• the photo ID you were planning on using to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
• you’ve not yet received a new or replacement photo ID you’ve ordered

You have until 5pm on the day of the election to apply.

Bramcote Hills Park play area to spring into new life with £187,632 in funding

The Bramcote Hills Park play area will benefit from a refurbishment and upgrade thanks to funding of £187,632 from the FCC Communities Foundation and Broxtowe Borough Council’s own budget. The play area was last renovated 16 years ago and now, along with the refurbishment of play equipment on site, additional equipment will be added. The new equipment will add extra play value to the area, providing activities for a wide range of ages and abilities.  Read more

The Mayor's Silent Auction is now live!

Throughout her year in office, Councillor Teresa Cullen has visited, supported and promoted Broxtowe’s cultural sector – from the D.H. Lawrence Festival, to the Hemlock Happening, Beeston Film Festival and many, many more. For her final fundraising event she is holding a Silent Art Auction featuring a fantastic 26 pieces of locally created art work to bid on. All proceeds raised go to the Broxtowe Community Fund. Thanks go to Dr Janet Shipton and Marysia Zipser for their kind donations. Take a look and place your bids! Find out more

Bring your stall to Hemlock Happening

Are you a local community group that wants to get involved at Hemlock Happening? Then why not bring your stall along this summer? Attracting audiences of over 7,000 people, you can meet people from all across the Borough. For full information get in touch at events@broxtowe.gov.uk

The Water Vole Recovery Project

The Council's Parks team recently teamed up with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to support the ongoing Water Vole Recovery Project across the Nottingham Canal. Water vole populations have been rapidly declining over the years with 90% of their original range across the UK lost due to predation and pollution effects. The project seeks to improve existing habitats and create new ones to help build up existing populations and set strong foundations for the future re-introduction of water voles. The team visited various sites along the Nottingham Canal to identify burrow entrances, grazing areas and latrines with results looking positive that Water Voles are inhabiting the banks. From here we can begin to identify areas for wetland habitat enhancements that would have the best impact for the species.  If you take action to support your local wildlife too, make sure to log your activities on Green Rewards for a chance to win a £20 gift voucher in the monthly prize draw. You can download the app or sign up on desktop. Sign up