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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE September 2021 11
INTEREST IN OLD STANTON LAND
IT’S E-LECTRIFYING! Firms are stepping forward to take space on the industry

businesses test e-bikes for up to six hours in new trials Over the past 18 months, electric bikes have increased in park due to emerge from the disused Stanton Works.
transport alternatives.”
Halfords is calling on residents of Erewash to
Developers have re-opened a rail link and are ready to pro-
popularity. With one in three workers being reluctant to
vide units of between 15,000 to a million square feet.
commute to work by public transport, e-bikes offer a feasi-
Residents of Erewash will be among the first to be offered
Verdant Regeneration is preparing for public consultation in
ble alternative and make cycling far more accessible for all.
the exciting, new Halfords e-bike trials.
Local MP Maggie Throup visited the Ilkeston store to kick
sent Erewash Borough Council in October.
to places faster and with less exertion, putting the fun back
off the trials, where residents will have the opportunity to Riders of all ages can tackle more challenging journeys, get the Autumn with the hope that a planning application can be
trial an e-bike for free for up to six hours. into boring old journeys. In a statement, the landowners said: “The appointed agents
Halfords are giving customers a selection of 12 e-bikes to “Plus, e-bikes are great for promoting positive mental health are assessing expressions of interest from potential busi-
choose from. by helping to reduce stress and anxiety and boosting one’s nesses and investors.
From 27th August 2021 Halfords was offering a total of mood. And with benefits for the environment too, it’s no “Testing of the rail connectivity has seen two trains loaded
three million hours of free e-bike trials over the course of wonder sales have grown by 76% year on year! with materials successfully transferred to nationwide loca-
the next year, with residents in Erewash to be among the “Taking part in the new trial couldn’t be easier- customers tions, reducing large goods vehicles on roads.
first given the chance to take part. With residents treated to simply enter their postcode into the Halford e-bike trial find- “The next major stage will be public consultation. Results
a choice of up to 12 e-bikes, customers are being given the er, and they are shown availability at their local store. From of all of the reports will be returned for analysis over the
opportunity to try out the bike for up to six hours. there, they can choose a day and time that suits them and next couple of months. Findings from the public consulta-
Local MP Maggie Throup visited her local store in Water- book their slot - a £101 deposit will be taken when the bike tion all form part of the extensive work to submit a planning
side Retail Park in Ilkeston to mark the start of the trials. is collected, however this is refunded in full when returned.” application towards the end of October.”
Commenting, she said: “This is a fantastic initiative, and I Michael Powell, lead member for regeneration on Erewash
am delighted that constituents will be given the chance to Borough Council, welcomed progress on the site which is
try out these e-bikes for themselves. seen as a big part of the revival of the local economy.
“I hope they will encourage cyclists of all abilities to get He said: “There have been many discussions with our
back on a bike – particularly those who have long wanted officers and we are aware of what they have done so far
to but have felt less able to do so. I was really impressed and what their aspirations are. I am very pleased that it is
by the range of e-bikes available and the knowledge and moving ahead.
enthusiasm of Shane and his staff, making me want to swap “I am also encouraged that there seems to be interest from
my push bike for an e-bike. potential developers for new businesses and new jobs for
“As well as the health and social benefits, swapping the car the local economy.”
for an e-bike on short commutes benefits the environment, Ground work has involved capping mine shafts and devel-
which is so important as we look to build back greener from oping ways to clear contamination from the land which was
the pandemic.” used by heavy industry for generations.
With up to six hours to trial the bike, customers are given The 200-acre site stretches from Stanton-by-Dale to the
ample time to get a feel for their chosen e-bike; including outskirts of Ilkeston. It is a short drive from the Junction 25
the range, comfortability and speed - so they can ride away access to the M1.
confident that their questions have been answered.
Shane Rudin, who is the Halfords’ store manager in Il- SAVS 90 MILES WALK
keston, said: “It was great to see our local MP take part in
Halfords’ e-bike trials. We hope this will encourage many 10 - 12 Sept 21
more customers to give this a go, as we support the UK Paul Savage will be walking the Erewash
in adopting modern, electric and environmentally friendly MP Maggie Throup and Halfords store manager Shane Rudin valley trail for 3 days consecutively in aid of
Bens Den.
The needs of transition Please help us raise as much as possible
90 MILES, 3 DAY SPONSORED WALK

By Richard Shaw Go to virgingiving and search Savs 90 miler
relatively local. Many people went to the It would be easy to blame Mrs Thatcher How do we cultivate the conditions for
same place at the same time every year. for what happened. And certainly her gov- that? We could at least have a conversa-
But everyone had a place and seemed hap- ernment’s policies seemed to give the final tion about it. It is with such an eventuality
pier knowing it and there were aspirations push to what was already taking shape. in mind that Paul has suggested a group
towards a better tomorrow which put a fire Those concerned would argue that this comes together to talk about this as part of
in the belly and warmed the cockles of the was necessary to restore competitiveness a new communications initiative in which
heart. The aspirations were for self and and contemporary relevance where we had he is involved. He has asked me to facili-
community with not so much distinction lost it. And that it would cost more and tate it. So if you would like to come along
between the two. more to shore up what could no longer please get in touch with Paul.
None of this was simple or straightforward look after itself on the world stage. Contact [email protected] or
but somehow by today’s standards, and Be that as it may, and be it also that these 07539808390.
with the benefit of hindsight, it all seemed things were developing way before the A final comment: perhaps if there had
to serve a coherent whole which has been 1980’s there was a sense then that across been more provision for the transition
lost. And not only was there full employ- much of the country as well as in this part needs of communities as well as indi-
ment; there was a bustling high street full of it something significantly changed; it viduals in previous decades, there would
of local businesses and a market offering was almost like we fell off a cliff edge. have been less of a sense of falling off
necessities and luxuries to suit all tastes. Marks and Spencer’s disappeared from the edge of a cliff. And less morning for
Even if conditions were hard there was a the High Street and that seemed to mark the sudden loss of what shaped identities,
burgeoning sense of life. the turning of the tide for Bath Street. however long the illness before the death
Once upon a time, there was it was grim and grimy; back There is a deep nostalgia for what has The store’s reappearance out of town only finally occurred. And there might have
full employment. And there breaking or painstaking, been lost. A collective grief for the loss highlights and further develops the shift. been a different sense of the legacy of all
were mines. And railway lines repetitive and poorly paid. The of what was so important for community We know we can’t go back and need to of this; something less traumatic and more
serving them. And stocking days were long, the conditions life and the individuals place within it. It go forward. But how do we achieve this? transitional.
frames. And lace making. In demanding. Accidents would seemed like a fully woven fabric and not a Not in terms of schemes dreamt up on In looking at transition now, we may also
Stanton there was iron making. happen. Injuries would occur thing of tatters and threads. our behalf but in terms of what we want want to be aware of this and also one
A great many trades and and infirmities arise which Of course I am being romantic but I am to bring forth from ourselves; as things other thing. It is easy to see how economic
skills were learnt and flour- could become chronic. Lives not alone in this. And the grief seems real we can recognise, take ownership of and activity has previously shaped societies.
ished. There was respect and could be as short as the days and continuing. Within the mourning for responsibility for; things that we imme- ‘There is no such thing as Society’ apart
recognition between those who were long. And yet, looking what has been lost however must also lie diately feel a part of because they’ve had from the outcome of economic activity is a
worked together and recog- back, these days seem like the seed for what is yet to come. Where, their origin in us. part of this. But what happens when social
nised each other’s strengths the golden years; the old and therefore, are the seeds for the future to be Obviously this is about new enterprise interaction becomes the means for better
and abilities. There was com- golden days. Why is this? found within our own experience? How and initiative. Clearly agencies exist to sensing needs and initiatives? Maybe it is
radeship and camaraderie. Very few people had a car or a does the future form itself from out of facilitate that. But these must be our own time now to put that to the test!
It wasn’t always easy. Often bank account. Holidays were this? decisions, not those made on our behalf.