WITH all the floods that swept across the area on Monday, we are asking you to have your say and tell us your stories.
Hundreds of people were badly affected by the freak weather which struck our area and you can see what people went through by reading their comments below:

From www.chad.co.uk:

STUNNED Pleasley student Louise Davidson got the shock of her life when she was slapped with a £75 fine . . . for dropping an apple core under bushes at Mansfield’s Carr Bank Park.
The 18-year-old was hit in the pocket after an eagle-eyed park warden spotted her throwing the apple away as she walked through the park.
But furious Louise has slammed council bosses for ‘being treated like a criminal’ –– telling Chad yesterday that she believed her actions would do more good to the environment than harm.
“I could not believe it –– £75 for dropping an apple core,” she said.
“The warden said it would attract rats, although the reason on the fine merely stated ‘throwing down an apple core in the bushes’ –– nothing to do with vermin.
“What made matters worse was that after fining me the warden just walked off.
“He did not pick up the apple core or ask me to do so –– which surely defeats the object of fining me if it was going to attract vermin.
“To me, the fine was very steep and I was annoyed because in the same week the Carr Bank memorial had been vandalised.
“Nothing happens to the people who did that, but I’m treated like a criminal for trying to help the environment.”
But yesterday Mansfield District Council’s senior neighbourhood warden Richard Townsley defended the warden’s actions and said Louise was fined because all food waste is classed as litter.
“Some people may think throwing a banana skin or apple core under a hedge is harmless or even good for the environment, but actually it is a very serious problem as it attracts rats to the area,” he said.
“There are plenty of bins in the park so there is no excuse for dropping food waste, chewing gum or cigarette ends and if a warden sees this happening they will automatically issue a fixed penalty.”
But council chiefs say the apple core was later collected by park staff and was not initially retrieved by the warden because he was not suitably equipped to pick up litter –– and, as it was a half-eaten apple core, it would have been unhygienic for him to use his bare hands. 

Do you think the warden was right in fining Louise or do you think it was a crazy decision? Has anything similar happened to you? Just let us know below what you think about this story:

From www.chad.co.uk:

AUSTRALIAN businessmen are flying to England later this month to step up their bid to buy Mansfield Town Football Club.
The group are following up their initial £275,000 appr-oach to take control of the Stags in May, as first reported in Chad.
And now Chad can exclusively reveal that the consortium will come to Mansfield to meet Stags’ chairman James Derry, who described their initial three-year package offer as ‘well thought out’.
The businessmen, who have asked not to be named at this stage, have pledged not to put the club into debt through any sale and said they would be willing to consider ‘UK investors with an interest in football’.
They added, though, that it was too early to make public any details of the level of investment they plan if successful.
Sceptical
However, the Australians have moved to quickly reassure fans who have criticised current chief executive Keith Haslam’s stewardship of the Stags — and are sceptical about any takeover.
A spokesman told Chad: “For the first three years our plan is all about developing the club. The club needs upgrading in all areas.
“Aside from wages and marketing, there would be no money going out. There would be no need for loans.”
And the businessmen insist that, if successful, they would relocate to Mansfield to run the club – and have a real desire to develop the Stags.
A spokesman added: “We come from many varied business backgrounds, but we all have a common passion – football.
“We are also really driven by the idea of establishing an academy that could, in time, be world class.”
The businessmen have some experience of football in Australia at a local level — their spokesman, a keen player at a local level, is a coach and committee member at a community club in Australia boasting more than 1,000 young players.
But the group insist that the footballing side ‘would be left to a professional while we invigorate the marketing side and other aspects of the club’.
The spokesman said: “I don’t think anyone can expect investors not to assume some profit, but to maximise our profit we need to develop a product with real returns.
“We believe we can deliver a substantial improvement in general management from a pure business front.”
“It must be remembered that we are businessman, so the intent is to develop and, like any business, give it real value. Then we would look and assess again in five years and see where we were.”
Stags’ owner Mr Haslam has indicated that he is willing only to sell the football club, retaining ownership of Field Mill.
But the consortium spokesman added; “If Mansfield Town FC are genuinely seeking to sell, then we are very interested in coming and would be prepared to act quickly. And in the future we would hope to be able to acquire the stadium and other assets.”

Let us know your views on the takeover bid below . . .

From www.chad.co.uk:

CALLOUS vandals caused £6,000-worth of damage when they attempted to steal bronze plates from a Mansfield war memorial.
Yobs targeted the memorial, which dates back to 1921 and is dedicated to the town’s war dead, at the town’s Carr Bank Park on the night of 14th May.
Furious council chiefs say the thieves probably intended to sell the two bronze plates for scrap, but were disturbed and fled the scene quickly.
Sickened Ravensdale councillor Christine Smith told Chad it was important police catch those responsible and make them face the consequences of their behaviour.
“What sort of mentality stoops so low as to damage a monument to our war dead?” said Coun Smith.
“It is a despicable act by people who only enjoy freedom at the cost of those who gave their lives. We want police to take this crime very seriously — the thieves need catching and given more than a slap on the wrist.”
And Coun Smith’s views were echoed by Ted Rutland, chairman of Mansfield’s branch of the Royal British Legion, who believes the vandals should be made to experience life as a soldier to appreciate the things Mansfield’s war dead went through for their country.
“When those responsible are caught they should be put in a uniform and sent out to serve in Afghanistan so they can experience the dangers and situations that soldiers face,” said Mr Rutland. “These people disgust me and clearly have no respect for those who died fighting for this country.”

From http://www.chad.co.uk/headline-news?articleid=2887806


WHAT was the strange sighting hovering above the skies of Sutton?
The mystery image was spotted high above the town by Chad reader John Gregory, of Burn Street, shortly after 10pm on 2nd May, and appears to show a moon-like image with a nose, mouth and eyes.
Bemused John today told Chad: “I was looking at the sky and saw this object because it was very bright. At first I thought it was a star but now I am not sure and would love to know what it was.
“It was very unusual and I was rather surprised to see it. It was very clear and could be seen for miles around. The image stayed in the sky for about 20 minutes and then just vanished and I have not seen it since.
“The image seemed to have a face, nose and a mouth, it was very strange and I have never seen anything like it before.”

Let us know your views below

From www.chad.co.uk

A NETHER Langwith care home has been criticised following the death of a malnourished resident.
Herbert Salisbury (81), who suffered from dementia and lived at Langwith Lodge Residential Home between November 2003 and September 2006, died on 16th October last year after his food pipe and stomach failed and became blocked.
An inquest on Friday was told the health of Mr Salisbury, who spent the last week of his life living at Sutton’s Stoneyford Christian Nursing Home, had deteriorated significantly over the last 10 months — causing him to lose a stone-and-a-half in weight and become unstable on his feet.
Dr Nick Wright, a consultant at King’s Mill Hospital who attended Mr Salisbury, told the hearing the death was not unusual in the circumstances.
But Jayne Hilton, a care home inspector for the Social Care Inspection governing body, who assessed the home in December 2006, told the hearing Langwith Lodge had fallen below the expected standards.
She said: “From February 2006 Mr Salisbury was becoming more unstable on his feet and was losing weight, but the home did not seek advice on the situation or implement a plan of action to improve his health.
Louise O’Driscoll, a staff member at the care home, rejected the claims and said they had done all they could to resolve Mr Salisbury’s weight loss.
Recording her verdict, Catherine Mason, assistant deputy coroner for Notting-hamshire, urged the care home to learn lessons from the death.
She said: “The elderly should be treated with dignity, respect and care.
“Clearly from the evidence I have heard Langwith Lodge Residential Home did not provide the level of care that Mr Salisbury deserved and had a right to expect.
“I was mindful to add neglect to the verdict but in view of the evidence the poor care did not play a part in his death.”
Speaking after the inquest, Lynn Gedling, acting care home manager, told Chad staff at the home were disappointed with the verdict.
“The coroner made the staff feel very inadequate by saying we neglect our residents,” she said. “We do not neglect residents and give them excellent care — all our staff were left gutted by the verdict.

What are your experiences of care homes? Let us know below and a selection of views will be printed in next week's Chad. 

From http://www.chad.co.uk/news?articleid=2857662

MOTORISTS paying a visit to Sutton and Mansfield town centres could face parking meters under new plans being considered by Nottinghamshire County Council.

A study commissioned by the authority found more than 20 possible sites for meters in each town centre and said the move could bring in £309,000 each year.

Leading councillors discussed the proposals at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday as part of their goal to take over parking enforcement in the county from police.

Members agreed to submit an application to the Government to run parking in partnership with district councils, which they want to start by spring next year.

It is estimated that trained parking attendants in the county will cost around £700,000 a year, which will be paid for from the money gained from penalty charge notices –– while any surplus made would be spent on traffic management programmes.

Meanwhile, the report into parking meters estimated set-up and running costs for the first five years in Sutton and Mansfield at £479,300.

It states the areas where meters could be brought in were mainly within short distance of the main shopping areas and would benefit from removal of long-term commuters — but a further report will be presented to cabinet members before any decisions are made.

What do you think? Let us know below.

From http://www.mansfieldtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2861658

WITH environmental awareness sweeping the country there has never been a better time to get involved in the green crusade in Mansfield.

As part of Local Newspaper Week we are today urging residents to do their bit for the environment and help improve the local landscape.

Many of you will be unaware of the hidden natural treasures in the district and the wealth of animal and plant species on your doorstep and the work that Friends groups do to help preserve these beauty spots with the help of Mansfield District Council.

Among the highlights are nine local nature reserves supporting an abundance of wildlife and locations for some peace and quiet.

Today we take a closer look at some of these sites - Quarry Lane Walkway Local Nature Reserve, The Hermitage Local Nature Reserve and Maun Valley Park Local Nature Reserve.

Let us know below what you think about the town’s hidden beauty spots and the work volunteers do to preserve them for others - and we will publish a selection of your views in next week’s Chad.