Latest news with #NottinghamCityCouncil
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Mum found dead with daughter feared losing her
A mother who was found dead alongside her disabled daughter in their home had repeatedly refused support from local services, an inquest has bodies of Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in Hartley Road in Radford, Nottingham, though it was believed they had been dead for some time before they were discovered. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard they had moved into their council home in June 2019 following a homelessness in the years before her death, Alphonsine's engagement with housing and social services dwindled and she feared her youngest daughter would be taken away. The inquest, which started on Monday, heard how Alphonsine had called 999 from her house in February, pleading for an ambulance and saying she could not after the call was mistakenly considered an abandoned call and closed, nobody medical cause of death was proposed as pneumonia while her daughter's was "unascertained".On Tuesday, the court heard how in the years she lived in Hartley Road, Alphonsine started to refuse access to her property from housing services and other social care agencies. Alphonsine had been in the property since 2019 and initially engaged with council a statement read to the court, assistant director for tenancy and estate services at Nottingham City Council, Kathy Sheldon, said after 2021 "access to the property became more difficult".Several inspections were missed and as a result the gas supply to the property was capped in 2023. In October that year Alphonsine asked the city council for the gas to be turned back on, but did not grant access to her property for that to happen, the inquest was told. That meant from 2023 the house had no hot water and no heating. The court also heard how Loraine, who had Down's Syndrome and learning disabilities, stopped attending her SEN school from 2022, after her mother asked for her placement to be had been raised by the school between 2021 and 2022 about her daughter's low also refused help with Loraine's college applications and in September 2022 Loraine was "formally [considered] not in education, employment, or training", the inquest was told there was also a lack of engagement with support from the city council's Whole Life Disability Team, which provides specialist social care to Brettel, a city council SEND director, said in a statement: "Loraine was trying to engage with professionals but Alphonsine was trying to prevent her from doing so."During a conversation with Alphonsine, she expressed that she was really worried about Loraine."He added Alphonsine expressed fear that the specialist social care workers would "take Loraine away from her". Alphonsine, who was originally from Cameroon, moved from Italy - where her two daughters were born - to the UK in September three were housed in Hartley Road by the council in 2019 but her eldest daughter, Elvira Choulla, moved out of the property in April a statement to police which was read to the court, Elvira said after July 2023, her contact with her mother became less month, Alphonsine took Loraine on holiday to Africa, not telling Elvira until they had arrived, which she said upset added her mother travelled a lot - usually to Italy or Cameroon - and "usually for long periods of time"Of her sister's education, Elvira said: "Initially Loraine attended school all the time and loved it, but eventually Alphonsine believed Loraine was being neglected at school." 'Truly loving mother' Her last contact with Loraine was in November 2023, after Elvira visited her sister and mother for a family dinner."We had a lovely time and we had a lovely meal and I got to see Loraine and Alphonsine together," she going forward, their contact was further limited and when Elvira visited the house in early 2024, she said the house was "in darkness and there were no signs of life" inside. She was later told by a friend that her mum and sister had been seen in friend advised her against contacting the police over concerns about their whereabouts. The final time she attempted to contact Alphonsine or Loraine was in April. "Loraine and I had an amazing relationship and she was, and still is, my best friend," Elvira said. "I loved Loraine and every time I was with her I could tell she loved me added of her mother: "We had a strained relationship at points, however she took great care of Loraine and was very patient and very understanding, and was a truly loving mother."The inquest continues.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Canal needs to be safer, say boaters after assaults
"It's the same as the city, there's a feeling of degradation about it in places, which saddens me." John Ball has been mooring in Nottingham city centre on his narrowboat for many years, and says the canal has changed in that time. He spoke to the BBC following three separate attacks along and near the canal in less than a month. The first was against a woman who was raped on 20 June, then another woman was sexually assaulted on 6 July, then a man was seriously assaulted on 17 July. John says he has felt threatened himself at times, but he continues mooring in the city centre out of defiance. 'Violent and aggressive' "If people like me stop mooring here then it will get progressively worse," says John, who is 71. "It will finish up with more and more people drinking and doing drugs, and being violent and aggressive." John says he has experienced vandalism himself - someone unhooked the protective fenders from the side of his boat and threw them in the water. He pays for a permanent mooring at a nearby marina, so he could stay there, but he is determined to keep using the canal. "I won't stop doing it, because it winds me up and it annoys me as much as anything else," he says. John isn't the only person to be concerned. The Canal and River Trust (CRT) - the charity responsible for maintaining England's waterways - says it has been "shocked" by the recent assaults. The charity said it had been in discussions with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police. "We're carrying out regular clean-ups and addressing issues such as unlicensed boats, but we want to work with partner organisations that have the powers and skills to deal with the broader issues we've seen recently, such as criminal activity, fly-tipping and homelessness," a spokesman said. John said he had noticed a problem with unlicensed boats himself. Boaters like him have to pay an annual licence to the CRT which allows them to use canals - but some boaters have been mooring along the canal illegally. "I walked in from Castle Marina the other day and of the 19 boats I passed, two of them had licences on them, and they were the two charity boats run by the local authority," he said. The CRT theoretically has the power to remove unlicensed boats from canals, but in reality, doing so is difficult. "This is always very much a last resort, at the end of a long legal process, and where we've repeatedly tried to resolve the issues with the boater without success," said the CRT spokesman. Multiple women have previously told the BBC they feel too scared to walk or run along the canal, and that more police patrols would help. Nottinghamshire Police said its officers were "maintaining a high-visibility presence in the area" following the recent attacks. Supt Chris Pearson, area commander for the City Division, said: "Our neighbourhood policing team for the city centre continue to carry out routine patrols around our canal towpaths as part of their policing activity. "This is both uniformed and plain-clothed patrols. "Violence against women and girls is a force priority and we will continue to work with our partners to improve the safety of our canal network." Nottingham City Council was also asked to comment but did not want to. John believes the canal would be safer if more licensed boaters like him started mooring there. "Realistically, more people need to use it," he said. "You can put people [police officers] on the ground but they haven't got the resources." Fellow narrowboater Ian Furmidge agrees there is safety in numbers. He normally moors his narrowboat in Market Bosworth, but was passing through Nottingham city centre when he spoke to the BBC. "All towns and cities and urban areas come with a sense of trepidation, and there is safety in numbers, you do look for groups of boats," said Ian, who is 62. "If I was mooring here and there were no other boats at all I'd be quite nervous and probably wouldn't stop. "We need people in the city centres." John has certainly not been deterred from mooring in the city centre by the recent attacks. "It's my home town and I'm not going to be pushed out of it by people behaving in a bad way," he said. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'It no longer feels safe to run next to the canal' Man charged with rape after city centre attack Man in hospital after serious canal path assault
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Nottingham canal needs to be safer, say boaters after assaults
"It's the same as the city, there's a feeling of degradation about it in places, which saddens me."John Ball has been mooring in Nottingham city centre on his narrowboat for many years, and says the canal has changed in that spoke to the BBC following three separate attacks along and near the canal in less than a first was against a woman who was raped on 20 June, then another woman was sexually assaulted on 6 July, then a man was seriously assaulted on 17 says he has felt threatened himself at times, but he continues mooring in the city centre out of defiance. 'Violent and aggressive' "If people like me stop mooring here then it will get progressively worse," says John, who is 71."It will finish up with more and more people drinking and doing drugs, and being violent and aggressive."John says he has experienced vandalism himself - someone unhooked the protective fenders from the side of his boat and threw them in the pays for a permanent mooring at a nearby marina, so he could stay there, but he is determined to keep using the canal."I won't stop doing it, because it winds me up and it annoys me as much as anything else," he says. John isn't the only person to be concerned. The Canal and River Trust (CRT) - the charity responsible for maintaining England's waterways - says it has been "shocked" by the recent charity said it had been in discussions with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police."We're carrying out regular clean-ups and addressing issues such as unlicensed boats, but we want to work with partner organisations that have the powers and skills to deal with the broader issues we've seen recently, such as criminal activity, fly-tipping and homelessness," a spokesman said. John said he had noticed a problem with unlicensed boats himself. Boaters like him have to pay an annual licence to the CRT which allows them to use canals - but some boaters have been mooring along the canal illegally."I walked in from Castle Marina the other day and of the 19 boats I passed, two of them had licences on them, and they were the two charity boats run by the local authority," he CRT theoretically has the power to remove unlicensed boats from canals, but in reality, doing so is difficult."This is always very much a last resort, at the end of a long legal process, and where we've repeatedly tried to resolve the issues with the boater without success," said the CRT spokesman. Multiple women have previously told the BBC they feel too scared to walk or run along the canal, and that more police patrols would Police said its officers were "maintaining a high-visibility presence in the area" following the recent Chris Pearson, area commander for the City Division, said: "Our neighbourhood policing team for the city centre continue to carry out routine patrols around our canal towpaths as part of their policing activity."This is both uniformed and plain-clothed patrols."Violence against women and girls is a force priority and we will continue to work with our partners to improve the safety of our canal network."Nottingham City Council was also asked to comment but did not want to. John believes the canal would be safer if more licensed boaters like him started mooring there."Realistically, more people need to use it," he said."You can put people [police officers] on the ground but they haven't got the resources."Fellow narrowboater Ian Furmidge agrees there is safety in normally moors his narrowboat in Market Bosworth, but was passing through Nottingham city centre when he spoke to the BBC."All towns and cities and urban areas come with a sense of trepidation, and there is safety in numbers, you do look for groups of boats," said Ian, who is 62."If I was mooring here and there were no other boats at all I'd be quite nervous and probably wouldn't stop."We need people in the city centres."John has certainly not been deterred from mooring in the city centre by the recent attacks."It's my home town and I'm not going to be pushed out of it by people behaving in a bad way," he said.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one?
Families with children on free school meals are eligible HELPING HAND Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of households need to look out for supermarket vouchers landing on doormats worth up to £180. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures for June confirmed food prices have soared in the last 12 months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Cropped shot of a woman holding a basket while shopping at a grocery store Credit: Getty But there are ways to drive down the cost of your weekly shop, starting with help through the Household Support Fund (HSF). The £742million fund has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to allocate their share. Some are directing cash payments to residents in need while others are distributing supermarket vouchers to cover the summer holidays. We've rounded up what some local authorities are offering below. We won't have covered all the councils offering help, so if your local authority isn't included it's worth checking with it to see what you are eligible for. Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to the Household Support Fund where you'll find details on who is eligible and what you're in line for. You can find what local council area you fall under by visiting That said, below are some of the councils offering qualifying households supermarket vouchers. Bracknell Forest Council Schools in Bracknell are automatically distributing supermarket vouchers to children registered for free school meals. These vouchers have been paid for through Bracknell Forest Council's allotment of the Household Support Fund. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now The council has not confirmed how much the vouchers are worth. Wakefield Metropolitan District Counci Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is issuing supermarket vouchers worth £50 to families receiving council tax support. The vouchers are being issued via letters on July 21 and take up to seven days to arrive. Full instructions on how to redeem the vouchers will be included in the letters. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn't have to be used all at once and can be used several times until it is spent. Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council is distributing £75 supermarket vouchers to households each month until March 2026. There is a limit on the number of vouchers being shared each month meaning you have to act fast to claim one. Applications for this month's vouchers opened on July 7 so may all have been allocated for July. Nottingham City Council has said the dates applications for vouchers will open between August and next March will be confirmed "later in July". Ealing Council Ealing Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth £90 to families with children on benefits-related free school meals this month. The vouchers are worth £90 per child meaning you could get £180 if you have two kids. You don't need to apply for the vouchers as they are being sent automatically to emails or as letters. The council's partner, Blackhawk, is issuing a 16-digit personalised code and instructions on how to redeem the vouchers on the Blackhawk website - Devon County Council Devon County Council has issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. The council has said the vouchers can be redeemed in major supermarkets but hasn't said which ones. Portsmouth City Council Portsmouth City Council is issuing £50 supermarket vouchers to children on benefits-related free school meals. You might also be eligible if your child is not on free school meals and you're on a low income, and can apply for the vouchers from the end of the school term. You can also forward your email address to the council and will be contacted when the application window opens. More details can be found via Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Families on free school meals are eligible for supermarket food vouchers being distributed by schools in the area. You do not need to apply as they are being issued automatically. Food vouchers may also be available for children under five years if certain criteria is met. To receive a voucher, children must be living in Bournemouth, Christchurch, or Poole and meet one of the following criteria: currently claiming 2 year old early education funding at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term currently claiming Early Years Pupil Premium funding for 3 and 4 year olds at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term (this is different to the early education funding available to all 3 and 4 year olds) currently have an open case with a social worker or Early Help family support worker and are of pre-school age Food vouchers for this group of families have to be applied for, with more details on the BCP Council website. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended. The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
'I spent months fighting £25 parking penalty'
A man has said he spent months fighting and eventually winning an appeal against a £25 charge after parking outside his home. Mark Toplass has a brain injury, which causes memory loss and he relies on reminders about everyday activities like bills and car payments. The 55-year-old received the penalty in February when his parking permit, which allows him to park for free outside his home in The Meadows in Nottingham, had expired. After numerous demands from Nottingham City Council for payment, Mr Toplass later discovered that the authority's policy states it will send a reminder to residents ahead of their permit expiring - which he said he did not receive. Mr Toplass, who has had two brain injuries - his first a haemorrhage aged 38 - said: "My memory is shocking so I have reminders set up for everything. I've had to adapt my life. "This should've been dealt with at the very first appeal. Instead, they kept telling me the fine would double if I didn't pay, which is when it got stressful. "I've had to spend hours upon hours on this, just to show that they're not following their own procedures." Mr Toplass said the council told him it only reminded residents to renew their permits as a matter of courtesy. After digging into the issue, the former Army veteran - who used to work in local government - discovered the part of the council's policy, which states that "reminders will be issued to permanent residents... via email" before a permit expires. The charge was then cancelled in May after his second appeal. Since then, Mr Toplass has filed an official complaint and a freedom of information (FOI) request in a bid to find out how many other residents have been affected. He said: "My grievance now is how many other people in Nottingham are in the same boat? "In this day and age, we're all tight on money and don't want to be paying for something that isn't our fault." Mr Toplass has now cancelled his parking permit as he "doesn't want to go through the rigmarole", and will instead park on his own driveway, which he previously left empty so local children could play football on it. The city council said its policy was to send reminder letters to residents with virtual parking permits, but added the responsibility for renewal remained with the permit holder. A council spokesperson said they were sorry to hear about the difficulties Mr Toplass had experienced. The council has not told the BBC why the charge was cancelled. The spokesperson added: "We understand that situations like this can be challenging, particularly for residents with additional needs, and we aim to take a fair and proportionate approach to enforcement. "Anyone who receives a penalty notice can appeal, and all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking individual circumstances into account." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Parking ticket anger amid on-street permit delays City centre on-street parking charges to rise Related internet links Nottingham City Council
