Latest news with #NadinePeatfield
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Arts festival to return to Derby city centre after pause
An arts festival in Derby is set to return in September after being cancelled in 2024 due to rising Feste sees dance, theatre, circus, parkour and aerial performances take place in the city free outdoor event will return on Saturday 27 September, featuring performances by local artists including Derby-based Maison Foo and Hubbub Theatre. Leader of Derby City Council, Nadine Peatfield, said: "The event is a celebration of our city that highlights the passion, energy and commitment of the people of Derby and we all missed its dynamic presence last year." "It promises to be a day to remember," she City Council said the event will include family-friendly performances and will be accessible to deaf audiences and those who do not use English as a first event has received project grant support from Arts Council England National Lottery funding, and is delivered in partnership with FABRIC, the Midlands strategic dance development organisation, with additional support from Derby Museums and Knott, Midlands area director at Arts Council England, said: "We're delighted to be supporting Derby Festé 2025 with £47,000 of National Lottery Project Grants funding, and look forward to welcoming this much-loved event back to the city."Festé always brings a sense of excitement and exhilaration to Derby, as the community comes together to celebrate arts and culture. We're already looking forward to this autumn's edition of the festival."
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Derby leaders plead for help in tackling city crime
The Labour leader of Derby City Council has rejected criticism that the city has become "lawless" following an attack on a shop in broad Peatfield addressed the issue at a full cabinet meeting on Wednesday night as police continue to appeal for information after three masked men attacked a pawnbrokers in St Peter's Street on follows a number of violent incidents in the city in recent months, including several murder said she would be writing to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to push for more resources for the city beyond what has already been promised. Cooper launched a government crime initiative in Derby last month and promised 35 extra officers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting MPs Baggy Shanker and Catherine Atkinson also met with the home secretary this week to discuss crime in the city following the St Peter's Street said people needed to start seeing "results" from the government."Police must be visible, present, proactive and on our streets. Local people need to feel the difference not in words, but in lived experience," she said. Peatfield told the meeting on Wednesday that police had increased their presence in the area."In recent weeks, the number of serious incidents, including several tragic murders, has been unprecedented for our area," she said."Let me be clear: violence and criminality in our city and county will not be tolerated."We are taking action. Across the partnership – including local authorities, the police, community groups and health services – we are working tirelessly to make it harder for criminals to operate, clamping down on low-level anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, and organised crime to prevent escalation."Decades of austerity have taken their toll. Since 2010, Conservative-led governments have cut over 20,000 police officers nationally, and imposed cuts on councils and public services that support our most vulnerable residents."After the meeting Peatfield said a promise of 35 more police officers for the county from the home secretary "would never be enough" and said she will be writing to Cooper urging her to up the numbers."We do need more policing in our city. We can only ask the question," she said. Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts will also be contacting the home secretary about further support. 'Robust response needed' Conservative group leader Steve Hassall however criticised both the council and the police for "doing nothing" about high-level crime incidents. "Derby is lawless under Labour," he said."This is not the city I recognise. We've got people afraid of going to St Peter's Street. We have authorities in Derby doing nothing."I have never, ever witnessed such fear and anger from the public as we're currently facing."We have criminals happy and comfortable to commit that crime in the needs to happen is robust enforcement." Peatfield said the criticism from the Conservatives was "irresponsible". But the leader of the Reform UK group Tim Prosser echoed the remarks."We've all seen on a daily basis large-scale organised crime across the city for a while now. We are looking desperately now for results," he said.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Council traces golf course fly-tipping back to owner
Derby City Council says it has found evidence to identify the person whose rubbish was fly-tipped at the entrance of a city golf authority said it was alerted to bin bags, a sofa and multiple mattresses being dumped at the entrance of Derby Golf Course in Sinfin on leader and Sinfin councillor Nadine Peatfield said public protection officers had since found evidence within the rubbish to identify the owner."It's a terrible sight to see. We hate fly-tipping and it's an absolute disgrace," she said. "When there are black bags, that can be a signal to find things such as bank statements or letters that points to who the culprit is."The person who the rubbish belongs to could have innocently paid someone to get rid of it."If the person paid someone to legally get rid of the rubbish, we will go to them and ask them to put us in contact with who removed it for them.""That person getting rid of it could have then fly-tipped it, but we are trying to get to the bottom of it." Peatfield added the rubbish needs to be "assessed for secondary evidence" before it can be removed on Thursday.A Derby City Council spokesperson said: "We are committed to tackling environmental crime, which negatively impacts our city and places a financial burden on taxpayers."They added anyone convicted of fly-tipping could face an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Derby leader calls A38 decision 'divisive' but vows to minimise disruption
The leader of Derby City Council says the decision to construct major A38 upgrades is 'divisive' but will do everything she can to minimise disruption. Labour councillor Nadine Peatfield said the local authority had 'no influence' on the Government's decision to transform one of Derby's busiest roads but has always wanted the best outcome for the city. She added that the decision will support the delivery of thousands of new homes. The huge project is set to see significant changes to three key islands on the major route at Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton. The plan is to expand the road with more lanes and create flyovers and underpasses with the aim of easing congestion and quickening journey times. READ MORE: I went to one of 30 schools providing free breakfasts and it was a huge hit READ MORE: Authority considers banning barbecues and open fires in Peak District spots Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone But it is currently unclear how much the scheme will cost in total with an initial estimate of £250 million likely to have escalated. It is also unclear when work will start and how long construction will take. Meanwhile, there remains serious concern regarding the negative environmental impacts of the project. The Stop The A38 expansion group said in their latest statement that their campaigning has not yet reached the end of the road. Serious concerns include the loss of thousands of trees at Markeaton Park and increased carbon emissions and air pollution. Campaigners described the scheme as a 'polluting, destructive and pointless road scheme to line the pockets of the private developers'. Read more - New mural honouring ex-Rams manager coming to Derby The city council was asked for its stance on the go-ahead and whether or not Derby's road network will cope when construction work starts. Councillor Peatfield said the council will be 'doing everything we can to minimise disruption and impact '. She said: 'We recognise that the Government's decision to progress this project is a divisive one here in Derby. Whilst we have had no influence on the decision itself, throughout we've consistently aimed for the best outcome for Derby and will continue to do so. 'It's important to recognise, however, that this initiative will help deliver around 15,000 much-needed homes for our region. 'Moving forward, we understand both sides of this challenge and are committed to doing everything we can to minimise disruption and impact. We will work closely with the East Midlands Mayor to advocate for active travel infrastructure to be included, supporting walking and cycling, so that this scheme benefits all forms of transport. Additionally, we'll keep striving for measures that enhance both the environment and biodiversity." We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour is cosying up to China after years of rollercoaster relations
The sprawling city of Chongqing in southwestern China is an incredible sight. Built on mountainous terrain and crisscrossed by rivers, it is connected by vast elevated roads. Trains even run through some buildings. TikTokers have begun documenting their commutes in the striking urban architecture, generating millions of likes and much hype. But it is also where, on a somewhat quieter trip, mayors and their deputies from the UK recently visited - the largest British civic delegation to visit the country in modern history. The whole trip, which took place in March, received substantial Chinese media coverage, despite flying more under the radar in the UK. The impression it left on some of the politicians who travelled there was vast. "[The city is] what happens if you take the planning department and just say 'yes' to everything," reflects Howard Dawber, deputy London mayor for business. "It's just amazing." The group travelled to southern Chinese cities, spoke to Chinese mayors and met Chinese tech giants. So impressed was one deputy mayor that, on returning home, they bought a mobile phone from Chinese brand Honor (a stark contrast from the days the UK banned Huawei technology from its 5G networks, just a few years ago). Roughly half-a-dozen deals were signed on the back of the trip. The West Midlands, for example, agreed to establish a new UK headquarters in Birmingham for Chinese energy company EcoFlow. But the visit was as much about diplomacy as it was trade, says East Midlands deputy mayor Nadine Peatfield, who attended. "There was a real hunger and appetite to rekindle those relationships." To some, it was reminiscent of the "golden era" of UK-China relations, a time when then-Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a basket of fish and chips and a pint. Those days have long felt far away. Political ties with China deteriorated under former UK Conservative Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. The last UK prime minister to visit China was Theresa May, in 2018. But the recent delegation - and the talk of Sir Keir Starmer possibly visiting China later this year - suggests a turning point in relations. But to what greater intent? The course correction seemed to begin with the closed-door meeting between Sir Keir and Chinese President Xi in Brazil last November. The prime minister signalled that Britain would look to cooperate with China on climate change and business. Since then, Labour's cautious pursuit of China has primarily focused on the potential financial upsides. In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves co-chaired the first UK-China economic summit since 2019, in Beijing. Defending her trip, she said: "Choosing not to engage with China is no choice at all." Reeves claimed re-engagement with China could boost the UK economy by £1bn, with agreements worth £600m to the UK over the next five years — partially achieved through lifting barriers that restrict exports to China. Soon after, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband resumed formal climate talks with China. Miliband said it would be "negligence" to future generations not to have dialogue with the country, given it is the world's biggest carbon emitter. Labour simply describes its approach as "grown-up". But it all appears to be a marked shift from the last decade of UK-China relations. During the so-called "golden era", from 2010, the UK's policy towards China was dominated by the Treasury, focusing on economic opportunities and appearing to cast almost all other issues, including human rights or security, aside. By September 2023, however, Rishi Sunak said he was "acutely aware of the particular threat to our open and democratic way of life" posed by China. Labour claimed in its manifesto that it would bring a "long-term and strategic approach". China has a near monopoly on extracting and refining rare earth minerals, which are critical to manufacturing many high-tech and green products. For example, car batteries are often reliant on lithium, while indium is a rare metal used for touch screens. This makes China a vital link in global supply chains. "China's influence is likely to continue to grow substantially globally, especially with the US starting to turn inwards," says Dr William Matthews, a China specialist at Chatham House think tank. "The world will become more Chinese, and whilst that is difficult for any Western government, there needs to be sensible engagement from the get-go." Andrew Cainey, a director of the UK National Committee on China, an educational non-profit organisation, says: "China has changed a lot since the Covid-19 pandemic. To have elected officials not having seen it, it's a no brainer for them to get back on the ground". Certainly many in the UK's China-watching community believe that contact is an essential condition to gain a clearer-eyed view of the opportunities posed by China, but also the challenges. The opportunities, some experts say, are largely economic, climate and education-related. Or as Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies at King's College London, puts it: "China is producing information, analysis and ways of doing things that we can learn from". He points to the intellectual, technological, AI, and life sciences opportunities. Not engaging with China would be to ignore the realities of geopolitics in the 21st century, in Dr Matthew's view, given that it is the world's second largest economy. However he also believes that engagement comes with certain risks. But Charles Parton, who spent 22 years of his diplomatic career working in or on China, raises questions about the UK's economic and national security. For example, the government is reportedly weighing up proposals for a Chinese company to supply wind turbines for an offshore windfarm in the North Sea. Mr Parton warns against allowing China access to the national grid: "It wouldn't be difficult in a time of high tension to say, 'by the way, we can turn off all your wind farms'". But earlier this year, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU issued a statement expressing concern over the "politicisation" of deals between wind developers in Europe and Chinese turbine suppliers. Xi's real test is not Trump's trade war North and South Korea are in an underground war - Kim Jong Un might now be winning The Conservative Party faces problems - is its leader one of them? James Sullivan, director of Cyber and Tech at defence think tank Rusi, notes there are also some questions around cyberspace. "China's activities in cyberspace appear to be more strategically and politically focused compared to previous opportunistic activities," he says. As for defence, the UK's recently published defence review describes China as a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", with Chinese technology and its proliferation to other countries "already a leading challenge for the UK". Ken McCallum, MI5 director general, meanwhile, has previously warned of a sustained campaign on an "epic scale" of Chinese espionage abroad. But Prof Brown pushes back on some concerns about espionage, saying some media narratives about this are a "fairytale". Beijing has always dismissed accusations of espionage as attempts to "smear" China. Sir Keir and his team will no doubt be closely monitoring how this is all viewed by Washington DC. Last month, President Donald Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro described Britain as "an all too compliant servant of Communist China", urging the UK against deepening economic ties. "When it comes to foreign policy towards China, America's influence on policy will be quite substantive compared with say continental Europe," says Dr Yu Jie of China Foresight at LSE IDEAS think tank. Most analysts I speak to in both the UK and China are still clear on the need for the two countries to get back in the same room, even if they differ on where to draw the line: in which areas should Westminster cooperate and where should it stay clear. These red lines have not yet been drawn, and experts say that without some kind of playbook, it is difficult for businesses and elected officials to know how to engage. "You can only keep firefighting specific issues for so long without developing a systematic plan," warns Mr Cainey. Certain thorny issues have arisen, including Chinese investments in the UK. For example in April when the government seized control of British Steel from its former Chinese owner Jingye, to prevent it from being closed down, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds admitted that he would "look at a Chinese firm in a different way" when considering investment in the UK steel industry. China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, warned that Labour should avoid "linking it to security issues, so as not to impact the confidence of Chinese enterprises in going to the UK". After Starmer met Xi last year, he said the government's approach would be "rooted in the national interests of the UK", but acknowledged areas of disagreement with China, including on human rights, Taiwan and Russia's war in Ukraine. Securing the release of pro-democracy activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai from a Hong Kong prison is, he has said, a "priority" for the government. Labour's manifesto broadly pledged: "We will cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must." What is still lacking, however, is the fine print. Asked about the British government's longer-term strategy, Mr Parton replied: "No.10 doesn't have a strategy." He tells me he has some specific advice: "Go with your eyes open," he says. "But have a clear idea of what needs protecting, and a willingness to take some short-term financial hits to protect long-term national security." Labour has suggested that some clarity on their approach will be provided through the delayed China "audit", a cross-government exercise launched last year, which will review the UK's relations with China. The audit is due to be published this month, but many doubt that it will resolve matters. "If we see a visit from Starmer to Beijing, that will be an indication that the two sides have actually agreed with something, and that they would like to change and improve their bilateral relationship," says Dr Yu. But many people in Westminster remain China-sceptic. And even if the audit helps Britain better define what it wants out of its relationship with China, the question remains, do MPs and businesses have the China-related expertise to get the best out of it? According to Ruby Osman, China analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, there is an urgent need to build the UK's China capabilities in a more holistic way, focusing on diversifying the UK's points of contact with China. "If we want to be in a position where we are not just listening to what Beijing and Washington want, there needs to be investment in the talent pipeline coming into government, but also think tanks and businesses who work with China," she argues. And if that's the case, then irrespective of whether closer ties with China is viewed as a security threat, an economic opportunity, or something in between, the UK might be in a better position to engage with the country. Top image credit: PA BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
