13 roads in Bassetlaw are to be resurfaced or repaired as part of Nottinghamshire County Council highway investment.
The roads are to be improved after the county council announced it had received £52.4 million of capital investment and £20.3 million of revenue funding.
The money will also pay for improvements to pavements at £3.975 million, highways drainage at £2.03 million (including enhanced gully clearing), and other essential highway assets such as bridges, street lighting, and traffic signals, totalling £7.575 million.
Here is the proposed list of Bassetlaw highways maintenance schemes planned for 2025/26, but they are subject to further scrutiny and confirmation.
Pelham Street, Worksop – Netherton Road to surface change just past Furnival Street
Turner Road, Worksop – From Carlton Road to Stanley Street
Blyth Road, Worksop – From Thievesdale Lane to Hundred Acre Lane
Babworth Road /Hospital Road, Retford – From surface change approaching Railway Bridge to approximately 160m past Queen Street
Great North Road, Gamston – From 40mph speed limit entering village travelling South to Stanboard Lane
Devonshire Road, Harworth – From Baulk Lane to Bawtry Road
Lincoln Street, Worksop – From B6040 Cheapside to just past Radford Street
Myrtle Street, Retford – From Babworth Road to Westfield Road
Lowtown Street/Netherton Road, Worksop – From B6040 Cheapside to o/s No 123
Retford Road, South Leverton – From C2 Church Street to bend at Meeting House Lane
Carolgate, Retford – From New Street to Wharf Road
Sherwood Road, Worksop – From Eastgate to new surface
Amcott Way, Retford – From Idle Valley Road (Morrisions) to Arlington Way junction
Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Cllr Sam Smith said: “I know resurfacing more of our roads is the number one priority or our residents and that is why it is this council’s priority as well.
“We know particularly that potholes are the source of so much frustration for the public so we are committed to making sure this investment can be used to address improvements needed across our entire network.
“Whilst the funding invested will help to address some of the worst affected roads it will also mean we can carry out essential preventative works to avoid further deterioration”.
Councillor Neil Clarke said: “The works will incorporate both resurfacing projects and other treatments aimed at improving roads in poor condition.
“These will include preventative treatments such as surface dressing and micro-asphalt designed to extend the life of the network by preventing further deterioration taking a more long-term approach to highways maintenance”.
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has today unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train, which operate on the Robin Hood Line to Worksop.
The revamped train is the first in a £23 million programme to modernise EMR’s Class 170 regional fleet, with brand-new seats and tables, modern power and charging facilities, refurbished toilets, upgraded flooring, and a newly installed passenger information system.
It also includes a dedicated bike storage area and redesigned interiors.
The train is the first of the 44-strong Class 170 fleet to be refurbished. The next train in the programme is scheduled to enter service next month. Following that, a newly refurbished unit is expected to join the fleet each month.
EMR’s Class 170 fleet operates regional services across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, including Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield.
The upgrade of the Class 170 fleet is part of a wider £60 million programme, which will also include the refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 and Class 158 trains.
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: “This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint – it’s a complete transformation that puts our customers first.
“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”
A new fundraising page has been set up to aid the Worksop community impacted when a house exploded on their road over the weekend.
The gofundme page has been created by Sophie Louise to raise cash for families who lost their homes in the blast on John Street.
An introduction on the page by Sophie reads: “In order to help the devastated families that have lost their homes due to the explosion on John Street I have started this fundraiser and hopefully as a community we can all come together to create a fund to help them purchase things that they are going to need in the meantime until their homes are rebuilt or they are able to relocate to a new property.
If you’ve ever liked the idea of becoming a pub landlord, now could be the perfect opportunity with plenty of Bassetlaw establishments currently available and waiting to be taken over. These boozers are on the hunt for someone to take the plunge on fixed term tenancies.
Most of us like the idea of spending all day in the pub. But be warned, actually running one is no walk in the park and in recent decades the industry has faced a series of unprecedented challenges.
We have listed four pubs across the county that are looking for someone to take over the lease, according to findmypub.com.
Royal Oak, Main Street, Retford
The listing for this pub reads: “The Royal Oak Retford is located in the village of North Leverton, close to the towns of Retford and Gainsborough.
“The pub is surrounded by residential housing with a shop nearby and close to West Burton power station.
“It benefits from being the only pub in an area of around 844 adults.
“The Royal Oak Retford customer base is made up of midlife and mature adults.
The listing for the pub reads: “This modern gem is in excellent condition, offering you the perfect canvas to drive wet sales and elevate its already outstanding food offerings.
“In impeccable condition, with a large open-plan trading area to cater for both drinkers and diners with adequate covers. The pub also boasts a larger modern commercial kitchen, a small patio area to the rear and ample parking, this is your canvas to achieve exceptional sales and become the heart of the community.”
The listing for the pub reads: “Now is an excellent time to take over the pub, as the council plans to build more houses and infrastructure to create a town from the village.
“The upstairs function room has an entry point and is currently underused. The pub also has a tap room with around twenty covers. It’s the cask corner where guests watch terrestrial TV sports. The main lounge has around fifty covers and open-plan trading space leading to the garden.
“The beer garden has sixteen benches and is a good space for entertainment activities and functions. It also hosts the annual village festival.”
The listing for the pub reads: “On entrance to the pub you are welcomed by a traditional bar area that is split into two areas with fixed seating for up to 30 people on one side and a drinking area in front of the bar next to the open fireplace on the other side. To the rear of the pub is a stylish restaurant area with covers for around 40 people; this space can also be used as a function room or for live entertainment.
“There is a fully equipped trade kitchen with easy access to the bar and restaurant.
“To the front of the pub there is space for guests to enjoy a drink with outdoor seating provided either side of the entrance. To the rear of the pub there is a flagged patio area and a grassed garden comprising of several picnic style benches this is a popular spot for guests during the warmer months.”
Emergency services were called to John Street at 7.39pm on April 12 after an explosion inside a house and a major incident was declared.
Despite the best efforts of the responding emergency services, 53-year-old David Howard died at the scene. His next-of-kin are continuing to be supported by specially trained officers.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear and officers are keeping an open mind at this early stage in their investigation.
Emergency services at the scene on of the explosion to John Street 53-year-old David Howard died at the scene
As part of their inquiries, a 43-year-old man was arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder. He since been bailed pending further investigation work into the cause of the explosion.
Detective Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police and who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with David’s loved ones at this extremely difficult time.
“Whilst we have made an arrest, I want to be really clear that our investigation remains at a very early stage and we are doing everything possible to establish what caused this deeply tragic incident.
“It remains too early to say whether there is a criminal element to this case and would ask that people avoid speculation.
“Our inquiries are continuing and I would further ask anyone with information who is yet to come forward to please contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 612 of 12 April 2025.
Bassetlaw District Council’s leader Councillor Julie Leigh has praised the efforts of the emergency services following a fatal explosion at a Workop home.
Councillor Julie Leigh said: “We have all been shocked and concerned by yesterday’s incident on John Street in Worksop, which has had a huge impact on this community.
“I would like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has sadly lost his life and offer my sympathy to everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.
PICTURED: David Howard, who lost his life in a house explosion in Worksop
“I’d like to praise the swift actions of the emergency services and other agencies whose quick response has prevented any further loss of life. The painstaking search and rescue operation also ensured that wider residents of John Street and the surrounding area are safe and accounted for.
“In the time since this incident, officers from Bassetlaw District Council have been working tirelessly with other partners to ensure that families and individuals who have been evacuated from their homes have a safe place to stay.
“Around 50 people from 35 properties were evacuated, many of whom were able to be supported by family and friends.
“Last night, we were able to secure accommodation for nine households, while others were given emergency shelter overnight at Crown Place Community Centre.
“Our officers have been working hard again today and have found hotel and temporary accommodation for all those who have requested assistance as they cannot return to their homes this evening.
“As such, we have closed the emergency shelter for tonight and over the coming days will continue to work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council to support those directly affected, in addition to vulnerable people living close by who have been affected by the current loss of power.
“Officers from our Building Control Team also continue to work closely with the Emergency Services and provide specialist advice on the structural safety of the properties that have been affected by this explosion.
“I would like to advise all residents to continue to follow the advice of the emergency services and not to approach the scene until advised that it is safe to do so by the relevant authorities.”
Bassetlaw is an area with traditionally Red political roots and has been a Labour stronghold for most of the past few decades.
But the 2019 General Election saw the district elect a Conservative MP for the first time in more than 100 years – a result reversed by Labour in last year’s General Election.
The Tories also picked up six out of the nine Nottinghamshire County Council divisions in the 2021 local election – with Labour winning the other three.
However, could this change at the upcoming county council poll on May 1?
We’ve been to the Worksop East division, which also includes large chubks of Worksop town centre – the historic market town dating back to 1103 coloured with rich heritage and identity.
It is home to the Chesterfield Canal, built in the late 18th century, which played a key role in transporting coal and other goods during England’s industrial revolution.
The previous council elections saw four candidates stand for Worksop East – and this time round there are five. It was secured by Labour’s Glynn Gilfoyle, who is standing for the division again this year, too.
Notts TV asked all candidates to meet us for an interview at the Priory Centre, and this is what they told us – alongside the full result from 2021 for context.
Worksop East division result in 2021: Labour HOLD – Glynn Gilfoyle
Turnout: 26.3 per cent
Electorate: 9,636
Ballot papers issued: 2,531
Majority: 55.4 per cent vote share and a 507-vote majority
Questioning the 2024 candidates
Leon Maurice Duveen – Liberal Democrats
Why should people vote for you?
“I’ve lived in Worksop now for more than 35 years. We’ve been run by a Labour council majority of the time. However, the county is normally run by the Conservatives, and we are often ignored.
“You can just look around where we are now. This whole precinct and shopping centre used to be thriving but now it’s just full of empty shops. Nobody seems to have any idea what to do.
“The current county and district councilors seem to be more involved in their own local party politics. And as Lib Dems, we pride ourselves to getting things done on a local level for the people.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“Regeneration. We need to be investing in Worksop and Bassetlaw as a whole. Potholes are a big issue. There’s no point in just throwing a bit of tarmac onto it, as the council has been doing.
“I’ve got potholes on my street that have been repaired several times, and within weeks of them repairing them, the potholes reappear.
“So instead of actually investing the public money into the right places, we’re wasting money doing the same work time and time again.
“We need to start working out what to do with the centre of our town, here in Worksop. We really need to work out how to revitalise our town centres.”
Glynn Gilfoyle – Labour Party
Why should people vote for you?
“The Labour Party is the only party that will deliver a strong education system within the county. We will get to grips with the roads within the county and also the issue of Special Educational Needs, where there are a number of backlog cases of young people not getting the education they need.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“There is a big issue with the roads and potholes around Worksop East, and also an issue of flooding within the town centre. We need to get a grip of that and it needs some investment.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“Worksop East is a beautiful place to live. The people are warm and friendly and we’ve got a lot to be proud of. It needs someone that understands the locality like myself. I’ve lived in this area for more than 60 years, and I know the district very well.”
Andy Tyler – Conservative Party
PICTURED: Andy Tyler from the Conservative Party
Why should people vote for you?
“People should vote for me to get things done. I’ll be a councillor who fights for the people of Worksop to deliver what matters. Roads repaired, more school places and fighting to tackle anti-social behaviour within Worksop.”
What are the most important issues in Worksop?
“The most important issue is the roads. And if elected, I will be fighting to ensure that road repair plans are delivered on roads such as Lincoln St, which is scheduled for a full resurface next year, and surface treatment plans on the B6079 are delivered.
“Another issue is crime and anti-social behaviour. The Conservatives have been clear in Bassetlaw that we want to see Government investment to deliver a custody suite for Bassetlaw to help tackle crime in Worksop.”
What has Worksop got going for it?
“The people. We have fantastic community groups across Worksop and a strong local identity that only wants what is best for our area.”
Margaret Hamilton – Green Party Candidate
Margaret Hamilton from the Green Party
Why should people vote for you?
“[In] this election things are different – it’s no longer a two-horse race between Labour and the Tories. A vote for the Green Party is a vote for real change in Bassetlaw. Green councillors are serious about listening to local people, fighting for fully funded, efficient community services and protecting our homes and environment.
“The Green Party doesn’t tell their councillors how to vote, which means that I will always put the interests of residents in my area ahead of party politics, no matter the issue.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“I’ve lived and worked in Bassetlaw all my adult life and raised my children here. The people here are what we have going for us – most people are friendly and welcoming.
“Bassetlaw has so much potential, but we need more backing from local government to unlock it. Our beautiful countryside is our most precious resource, but we need to do more to protect it.
“We should have excellent transport links thanks to our railway lines, yet the train service falls short. We have excellent opportunities for building green energy infrastructure, but we need greater investment to retrain local people and push projects forward.”
What are the priorities for Worksop East?
“The cost-of-living crisis represents a real challenge for many in Bassetlaw. Greens are clear that we need to invest more in our future – education, health, homes – by ensuring that the very richest pay their fair share. Around here, we need to provide more opportunities for our young people.
“That means better public transport to get them access to work. It also means more youth clubs, parks, and accessible green spaces in our area to support community well-being for everyone.
“In the future, climate change will get worse, and we are not ready for it. Communities in Bassetlaw have been hard-hit by flooding, and we urgently need new and natural flood defences to protect residents and businesses.”
What is the biggest issue facing the constituency?
“Living standards have been made worse for everyday people across this country. Worksop is no different. We’ve lost a lot of jobs in this area, and the local economy is struggling.
“This is all made worse by the Government’s cuts to welfare and the winter fuel allowance, and by their refusal to remove the two-child benefit cap.
“We would do this by supporting sustainable, green investment in our local economy and by making sure that the wealthiest in society pay their fair share.”
Russell Dodd for Reform UK was unable to attend an interview and did not provide a statement, or answer our direct messages asking for a comment.
Churches in Bassetlaw are being urged to take steps to prevent being a victim of theft as they welcome visitors over the Easter period.
The warning comes from Ecclesiastical Insurance with Easter fast approaching, which is considered the most important date in the Christian calendar.
With the extra footfall, there is concern about opportunistic thieves potentially stealing cash and priceless items.
Churches have long been targeted by thieves, often for lead and copper from church roofs, but earlier this year Ecclesiastical revealed more than £500,000 worth of silver was stolen from church premises in 2024.
In February St Andrews Church in Little Steeping, Lincolnshire had paintings removed by thieves, while police are looking for a man caught on CCTV stealing from St Gregory’s Church in Northampton in late March.
Helen Richards, church operations director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Theft from church buildings can have a heartbreaking impact, both on the volunteers and congregation who worship at the church – even more so during such an important time for Christians and the church.
“Sadly we’re seeing more incidents where churches are being targeted, with items such as silver, cash, statues, artwork, furniture and even paving stones being stolen. Thankfully there are steps churches can take to help protect themselves, including storing valuables in a high-quality modern safe in a secure area of the church when they’re not in use, or storing items off-site where suitable alternative security arrangements can be made and with the approval of church insurers.
“We want churches to be open to welcome their communities, congregations and potential visitors – especially during Easter – but we must all be aware of the risks.”
Churches are now being urged to install electronic security protections in the church, such as intruder alarms or remote video surveillance systems, linked to a monitoring centre. They are also being urged to ensure items are recorded in the church inventory and security marked using a forensic marking solution, such as SmartWater, which will assist recovery if stolen. They should also keep portable valuable items in a secure area, the safe where practical, or a locked vestry or similar area when not in use.
Ask Severn Trent’s Terry Churchill what he loves most about his job tackling gross sewer blockages and he says: “Helping customers – and reminding them what NOT to flush.”
The football crazy 46-year-old is among teams called out to unblock pipes and drains clogged with everything from wet wipes to the fats, oils and greases which can lead to fatbergs. In the worst cases, they can result in sewage flooding back into homes and gardens.
Terry and crew mate Luke Hufton, 25, rapidly respond to the gross blockages across Nottinghamshire.
This spring Severn Trent is asking customers to ‘Be a Binner, Not a Blocker’ after their teams cleared a massive 28,782 blockages last year. The company is now urging people to only put the 3Ps down toilets – poo, pee and paper – and never put fats, oils and greases down sinks or drains.
Frontline Severn Trent worker Terry Churchill is reminding people what not to flush so they can prevent sewer blockagesOne of the blocked trains full of wet wipes
And lifelong Nottingham Forest fan Terry has seen first-hand the upset caused by people putting the wrong thing down the drains. That can leave offending householders facing a lengthy bill as it can be their responsibility to pay for damaging blockages they have caused.
Terry said: “We’ve turned up at homes where people have suffered flooding in gardens caused by blockages and the householder is in tears. We get to work and sort the problem out as quickly as we can and when we leave they are so thankful. That’s the best part of the job for me, I live for that.
“I also love the problem solving involved because some of our jobs are far from straightforward.”
Terry added: “Wet wipes are still the number one problem, people really should not be flushing them down the toilet, including ones that claim they are flushable as they do not break down.
“And fats, oils and greases should never be put in the sink or drains as they can also cause fatbergs – I’ve seen whole pipes blocked because of them.”
And it is not only blockages that Terry and Luke find when unblocking drains. “We find all kinds of things,” said Terry. “I’ve found penny coins from three monarchs Queen Victoria, Kind Edward VI and the late Queen!”
Dad-of-one Terry has worked at Severn Trent for 18 months, having previously worked for a sub-contractor in the waste industry. Before that he had worked many jobs, including bar work, as a DJ and in security, having ‘turned his life around’ as a teenager.
“I was in care as a youngster and had been a young offender as a teenager,” he said. “But I decided to turn my life around after getting the support of a family I knew who offered me a proper home. I wanted to repay them and worked hard and never looked back.
“My story shows everyone deserves a second chance – I even appeared on TV once to tell my story on The Time, The Place.”
Outside of work, Terry enjoys watching his beloved and high-flying Nottingham Forest with his teenage daughter. He said: “The team has had a phenomenal year and have a chance of winning the FA Cup. I’d just love a day out at Wembley with my daughter.”
Grant Mitchell, sewer blockages lead at Severn Trent, said everyone can help with the Be a Binner, Not a Blocker campaign.
He said: “Unflushable items such as wet wipes, sanitary products, nappies and a whole lot more cannot be flushed down the toilet. If they do they can cause blockages, which can flood the home which is not very nice at all.
“This spring, we are asking people to really have a think about their habits and what they are putting down the sink and see if there are any smalls changes that can be made. Even small changes can have a huge impact on sewer health.”
