Latest news with #NdukweOnuoha
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Leave it and listen to the residents' - Councillors in heated row over 'filthy' estate at packed public meeting
Two Derby councillors had a heated public row about a 'filthy' estate in front of a room full of concerned residents - with one pleading for them to stop. Labour councillor Ndukwe Onuoha and Conservative councillor Gaurav Pandey traded words as residents demanded answers on serious issues to do with the Mackworth and New Zealand ward. The lively meeting was held at a packed community centre on Stepping Lane after major concerns in the New Zealand area about its appearance and living standards were highlighted in recent weeks. It was also reported a fortnight ago how police had investigated a 'suspected brothel' in the area with a neighbour reporting loud noises and frequent visitors. One resident told the meeting: 'Nobody wants to live in a slum but that is what the area has become.' The meeting was divided into two parts. READ MORE: Derby pensioner ashamed at what his 'third-world' estate has become READ MORE: 'Where is he?' More calls for MP to resign as Derby councillor in lively meeting Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone The first allowed the 50 or so residents to speak to a number of Derby City Council officers and police about issues for advice and guidance. The second part was a public question-and-answer session. At the start of the questions the two Mackworth and New Zealand councillors were seen having an argument about the area's problems. One fuming resident shouted: 'Leave it and listen to the residents, please." Tensions soon calmed and residents raised questions. Issues included the rise of HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) in the area, fly-tipping and mainly the level of enforcement carried out over a new bins on streets pilot scheme. The bins-on-streets clampdown project targets a small number of streets in Derby using engagement and enforcement to stop people leaving bins on streets when it is not bin day. The meeting heard the pilot scheme is to end in August and its future will be reviewed. But residents claimed that very few fines have been handed out and problems remain. They urged landlords to be fined so the issue could be dealt with and for more streets to be monitored. A council officer insisted the authority had issued some fines, but there was a lack of resources preventing the pilot scheme from being expanded at this stage. It was stated that there are six Public Protection Officers (PPO) covering the whole city to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and environmental crime. Last year it was reported that Derby City Council's PPO numbers were cut down from 20 to nine within the space of a few years. The councillors said it only had powers to fine residents living in the property and issuing fines to landlords was a complex task under current laws. They said fines had to be issued to a named person and this was complex. It was even suggested residents could 'work as a team' to issue fines but the council officer dismissed this immediately, saying residents handing out fines would not be legal. Read more - Huge emergency services presence near Raynesway tip in Derby The council officer said: "It has been more complex then it appears on first sight to be able to issue fines. I apologise you are frustrated but we are working within the legislation we've got." On a separate topic, one person said he was concerned about speeding on Stanley Street. He said: 'Speeding cars on Stanley Street is getting ridiculous. Someone is going to get killed. They are using it as a rat run, it is a nightmare.' Police officers at the meeting said they could look at doing speed checks in the area. At the end of the meeting the two councillors embraced each other and vowed to work with residents to try to resolve the issues. We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Derby councillor 'strongly disagrees knife crime is running rampant'
A leading Derby councillor faced an angry exchange after saying he 'strongly disagrees knife crime is running rampant and unchecked' in the city. The remark from Labour councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, the Derby City Council cabinet member for public safety, led to an angry response from a Conservative councillor during a heated meeting on Wednesday (July 16). Earlier this year it was reported there had been five stabbings in Derby within 12 days. The alarming spree of incidents prompted Derbyshire police to issue a statement to reassure residents and stated that the help of the public was needed to tackle knife crime. But Councillor Onuoha said at the meeting his disagreement was not to deny there had been violence in the city. He said he disagreed with letting violent offenders 'determine the brand of our city'. READ MORE: Travellers evicted from Chellaston park while others settle on Normanton Park READ MORE: Delight over Market Hall comeback but council told its 'not set good example' Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone Prior to the meeting, Councillor Jamie Mulhall asked the Labour councillor in writing: 'With knife crime running rampant and unchecked across our city, can the cabinet member inform me what proactive measures they are taking to whip the scourge of knife crime from our city?' The opening line of Councillor Onuoha's written response said: 'We strongly disagree that knife crime is running rampant and unchecked across our city.' Councillor Mulhall reacted angrily to the opening part of the answer given. In a shouty response he said: 'Knife crime is personal to me. The cabinet member in his answer said 'we strongly disagree that knife crime is running rampant and unchecked in our city'. 'Earlier this year we had five stabbings in 12 days. Five stabbings in 12 days. So I ask you, councillor, who is to blame for failing to protect the citizens of our city? Is it you? Is it the Labour police and crime commissioner? Is it the chief Constable or is all of the above?' Read more - Concerns that new Derby special needs school is 'not suitable' for pupils Councillor Onuoha responded by saying: 'We've had five stabbings in 12 days, that is horrendous. But I don't think we should then make that into a campaign of 'oh look here's who to blame'. 'The first issue we should address is people for whatever reason feel they can go out into the city and express their emotions through violence. My disagreement is not to deny that there's been violence in the city. My disagreement is that we let five/six people determine the brand of our city. We should not do that and we will never do that.' At the start of the meeting council leader Nadine Peatfield said she was working with the police to introduce a knife amnesty bin in the Council House reception. She said this would be 'a safe space with security, where hopefully, people wishing to hand over a weapon, won't be intimidated out of doing so by having to enter a police station'. We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Trees planted in Derby parks to mark King Charles III's coronation
More than 2,000 trees have been planted across Derby as part of a project to mark the coronation of King Charles City Council said "micro woods" had been planted at Allestree Park, Markeaton Park, Chaddesden Park, Vicarage Road Recreation Ground and Normanton project, which was unveiled in 2023, was paid for by a government fund launched to support tree planting initiatives in commemoration of the King's council said the trees would "improve the wellbeing of residents for generations". Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, cabinet member for street pride, public safety and leisure, said: "These new micro woods will not only bring joy and improve the wellbeing of residents for generations, but they'll also significantly boost our local natural environment."We're incredibly proud of what's been created, and I want to extend a huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who has contributed."The authority's Derby Parks worked in partnership with Trees 4 Derby and local "Friends of" groups during the project. Micro woods, also known as Miyawaki Forests, are planted using a method developed by Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki, the council technique involves densely planting a variety of native tree species to mimic the rapid regeneration seen in natural forests.A key advantage of Miyawaki Forests is their accelerated growth rate, which can be up to 10 times faster than conventionally planted woodlands, the council added.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Safety works set for 'dangerous' road near Derby's biggest park
Safety improvements are set to be made to a busy and "dangerous" road next to a large park in Derby. Derby City Council said work to create a new pedestrian toucan crossing in Ashbourne Road, between Prince Charles Avenue and Markeaton Park, is due to start later this year. It is hoped the crossing will make it safer for pedestrians to cross and visit the park, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) city council said final costs and a timescale had not been confirmed yet. The section of Ashbourne Road where the crossing will be installed is one of Derby's busiest traffic routes and has a 40mph speed limit, which can make it difficult for pedestrians to cross both sides of the road, the LDRS said. 'Super happy residents' City councillor for Mackworth and New Zealand Ndukwe Onuoha said road safety improvements were needed on the stretch of road."If you have been there - and I have crossed it - you will know it is a mad rush to cross."Imagine someone with a buggy or a mobility scooter – it is very hard for them to cross. Parents tell me it is dangerous. We need a crossing so they can cross safely," he said. Conservative councillor for the area Gaurav Pandey welcomed the changes, adding there had been previous requests to get the work said: "We have been campaigning for this for a long time. Residents are going to be super happy about this."A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: "A new toucan crossing has been designed to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists between Prince Charles Avenue and Markeaton Park."While the final costs and installation timescale are yet to be confirmed, the project is planned for this year and will be funded by contributions from housing developments in the area."Work to improve road and pedestrian safety on the other side of Ashbourne Road – between Markeaton Island and Friar Gate – started last year after the council was awarded £475,000 from the section of road was identified as "high risk" and requiring improvement by the Road Safety Foundation. Work so far has included improvements to existing pedestrian crossings, upgrades to existing crossings on side roads leading to Ashbourne Road and new infrastructure to reduce speed of vehicles.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Households which leave bins on streets in Derby to be fined
About 100 fines are set to be issued to people in Derby for leaving their wheelie bins on the streets. Derby City Council has been running a pilot programme to clampdown on bins being left out on nine streets, with a view to taking the initiative city-wide. It is now set to issue its first fixed penalty notices under section 46a of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which allows the authority to issue fines for bins which cause an obstruction on the street, or may attract vermin. In a post on Facebook, councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council's cabinet member for Streetpride, wrote: "When I said I'd take action to get bins off our streets, I meant it." The Local Democracy Reporting Service has said wheelie bins being left on the streets has been an issue in a number of areas of Derby in recent years, including the Mackworth and New Zealand has hailed the pilot scheme a success. He said: "The number of bins being left out on these streets has reduced significantly since the start of the pilot, with enforcement action being taken against those who have continued to leave their bins out."The streets involved in the pilot have seen a reduction of up to 80% in the number of bins being left out." 'Needed on more streets' But Mackworth and New Zealand councillor Gaurav Pandey has questioned whether the threat of fines was proving an effective deterrent after he visited streets involved in the pilot scheme and said he saw a number of bins left out. He added: "There are bins everywhere."The law has been in existence for some time so why has there been a pilot of streets involved so far? This needs rolling out across more streets in the city so more people get the message."I don't think people's behaviour will change unless enforcement is issued – that's why it is needed on more streets."
