 If you do need to travel and the weather looks bad, did you know that you can view live pictures from traffic cameras that we have across the county?
We have cameras at eight places in Derbyshire, or just outside, and the pictures on our website show the condition of each road. Each picture is updated at least every 20 minutes, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
You might find them useful when bad weather hits and you're making decisions about whether to set out on a journey or not.
Work needed to complete the construction of a new road linking Woodville and Swadlincote has resumed in a push to get the route open before Christmas.
We stepped in as principal contractor to co-ordinate the works after the previous contractor, North Midland Construction, went into administration bringing the project to a halt in early October.
We've reappointed firms that worked on the project previously under sub-contract to North Midland Construction. Pavement surfacing and work to prepare the road ready for surfacing has started, with work to lay the road surface starting this week.
Once the new surface is in place, road markings can be added and fencing installed along the new road. Landscaping will take place after Christmas once the road's open.
The foundation stone has been laid at a new, state-of-the-art care home we're building in Cotmanhay near Ilkeston.
 Created on the site of the former Bennerley School, Bennerley Fields residential care home will have 40 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities.
To mark progress on the build, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart laid a foundation stone on site.
Pictured above from left to right are Letitia Wright Hazelwood Care Home unit manager, Councillor Carol Hart, Robert Stobo from Wates Construction and Amanda Dickinson service manager.
The new development – which will cost in the region of £13million – will replace the ageing Hazelwood home on Skeavington’s Lane which is no longer fit for purpose. Current Hazelwood residents will be given the option to move to the new development when it is completed.
The building work is being carried out by Wates Construction and the project is on target for completion next summer.
Letitia said that she and her team are excited about moving into Bennerley Fields and are embracing the changes ahead with positivity.
A number of cases of avian flu have now been confirmed across Britain, including one in Derbyshire.
If you keep birds you'll need to keep them housed from Monday 29 November as a legal requirement and follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of bird flu, Defra has said.
Wild birds migrating to the UK from mainland Europe during the winter months can carry the disease and this can lead to cases in poultry and other captive birds.
We can all still consume properly cooked poultry products including eggs. Public health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk.
If you find a dead or sick bird, don't touch or pick them up. Instead report them to the relevant helpline on the link below.
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Government inspectors have praised our ‘passionate and skilled’ workforce for showing ‘ambition and determination to secure the best outcomes’ for young people leaving our care.
Inspectors from Ofsted spent two days in October visiting us to review the quality and performance of our Leaving Care service. They also spoke to staff, partnership agencies and care leavers themselves.
The inspection focused on the service since the we brought it back in-house in 2019 – a move made with a ‘determined focus by senior managers and elected members’ which inspectors said had resulted in ‘significant improvements’ which are ‘visible, tangible and sustained’.
They also said they were ‘humbled by the amazing strength’ of our care leavers.
The service currently supports 750 young people aged 16 to 25 – of which around 310 are aged 18 to 21 – who are preparing to leave foster care, children’s homes, semi-independent accommodation or supported lodgings.
 Most of us will have already seen some snow and ice, so it’s safe to say that winter is truly here. But while the snowy scenes look pretty, cold weather can cause serious issues for older and more vulnerable people.
Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older, or if you have a long-term health condition.
That’s why we’ve put together lots of advice and support around how to help you, and your family, stay well in winter.
Here’s a few top tips:
- Check regularly on older neighbours and relatives
- If you're not very mobile, are 65 or over, or have a health condition such as heart or lung disease, heat your home to at least 18C
- If you’re eligible then get your free flu jab and Covid-19 booster
- draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to block out draughts to keep your home warmer
- Have hot drinks regularly and try to have at least one hot meal a day
If you think you will struggle with heating costs this winter, then help may be available. Find out more about help with heating your home here
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