Walking and Cycling Project.

Last updated: 22/10/2025.

Residents who use the canal crossing to get to Long Eaton's West Park are being warned that the bridge will shut next month – so that the spectacular new walkway can be built.

Pedestrians will need to follow diversions from 6th November 2025 when the existing link from the heart of Long Eaton to West Park closes.

Dismantling of the decaying bridge at Broad Street will then begin – ahead of it being replaced by a dramatic curved structure that sweeps across the canal.

Construction as part of Long Eaton’s £25million Town Deal is expected to be completed during August next year. The diversion will see pedestrians having to cross the canal via Derby Road. Erewash Borough Council apologises to locals for this inconvenience.

The authority is working closely with the Canal & River Trust on the bridge project – which includes the construction of a smart new waterfront.

Local businessman Richard Ledger, who is chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “The new bridge will be a real stunner – and something Long Eaton can be truly proud of.”

Linny Beaumont, regional director for the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s great to see these fantastic plans progressing. The new bridge promises to be a real local landmark, which will not only make it easier for the local community to access the canal but also create a point of interest where people want to stop and spend time by the water. We’re looking forward to working with Erewash Borough Council as this exciting project takes shape.”

 

 

 

Cinema hit! Mayor wields sledgehammer on eyesore

Galaxy Row Project.

Last updated: 28/05/2025.

EREWASH’S new mayor Harry Atkinson kicked off the demolition of a notorious eyesore in the borough – by grabbing a sledgehammer himself as crews set to work on the derelict cinema.

He was joined by a local business leader who also had a bash before heavy machinery began levelling the old Galaxy picture house.

The BBC’s East Midlands Today filmed 25-year-old Harry wielding the sledgehammer in Long Eaton for a news item on him becoming Erewash’s youngest ever mayor. He said as he proudly wore his chain of office: “Great things are happening in our borough and this is just one of them.”

The cinema on Derby Road closed more than a decade ago and has been a crumbling blight on the town ever since – with locals keen to see the back of it. The council moved to compulsorily purchase the movie theatre and a disused nightclub next door after the Government agreed to inject £25million of regeneration cash into Long Eaton. The properties were eventually acquired by negotiation.

Demolition is expected to take four months and will be carefully managed to minimise disruption to locals. Three commercial premises will be built as part of a showcase new development of 16 apartments for affordable rent. There will also be four “shared ownership” townhouses.

Access to 28 parking spaces will be from Oxford Street at the rear of the site.

Erewash’s leader James Dawson, his deputy Becca Everett and Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning Cllr Curtis Howard were part of a council delegation as demolition got underway. They were joined by representatives from developer MyPad and affordable housing association Tuntum.

The businessman who joined the Mayor in swinging a sledgehammer was Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board – who hailed the “positive impact” of redeveloping the site.

Council leader James said: “This is truly a great day. The regeneration of Galaxy Row will see it become a vibrant community of mixed-tenure homes – plus businesses.”

TunTum chief executive Charmaine Simei said: “This exciting regeneration project will transform the long-derelict site – delivering 16 high-quality flats for social rent and four family homes for shared ownership.

“The scheme demonstrates our commitment to building affordable homes, revitalising local areas and supporting mixed, sustainable communities.”

Tom Spink, director of MyPad, said: “This development represents exactly the kind of impactful, community-led regeneration we’re passionate about.

“In addition to providing much-needed high-quality, affordable homes, the scheme will support the creation of full and permanent job opportunities and deliver highly energy-efficient properties that contribute to long-term sustainability. We are proud to be playing a key role in enhancing the fabric of Long Eaton and helping to shape a thriving future for the town.”

The cinema originally opened as a theatre in 1907. The last film to be screened there is thought to have been the 2012 Liam Neeson fantasy epic Wrath of the Titans.

 

Related articles:- 

Chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal, Richard Ledger and Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Harry Atkinson can be seen smashing a wall with sledgehammers at an event held on-site, last week (video on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/reel/1034059931598691?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V.

This event was also covered by the BBC: Demolition begins at town's historic cinema - BBC News.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart of town set to get £10m facelift next spring

Long Eaton High Street Project.

Last updated 19/09/2025.

A £10MILLION project to transform Long Eaton's High Street is set to begin next spring, marking a significant step in the town's £25million regeneration.

The mission will deliver a flagship scheme to give the town centre a vibrant new look – with a focus on seeing the community get maximum benefit from the budget.

The Long Eaton Town Deal Board, which is overseeing the regeneration funding, has been conducting a comprehensive review of the design to allow for the impact of inflation on the cost of materials and to prioritise the use of British sourced products.

This detailed planning phase aims to secure the best possible outcome for residents and visitors, according to Richard Ledger, a local businessman who chairs the board.

He said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime boost for Long Eaton, and we are determined to get things absolutely right. With such a huge investment, our priority is to give the people of the town something they can be truly proud of by delivering a transformation that stands the test of time.”

Work is expected to start in May 2026. It is forecast to take a year before completion in May 2027.

Erewash Borough Council helped to secure the investment and has been working closely with the Government's new Local Regeneration Fund, formerly the Towns Fund. The £25million of total funding is providing other boosts to the town, including enhanced connectivity with two new bridges. Contracts to build a showcase curved crossing that will sweep over the canal at Broad Street and a second footbridge at Britannia Mills are set to be announced within weeks.

This follows the successful completion of two other projects – new lighting in West Park and the construction of an events field there. Work to demolish the town’s derelict Galaxy cinema is also complete, clearing the way for a development of new homes and business units.

A seventh project that is also nearing completion is the transformation of a historic stable block next to Long Eaton Town Hall. This building is being turned into a new business hub with a mix of offices, meeting spaces and workshops, and is on track to welcome its first occupants by the New Year.

All Long Eaton Town Deal projects are on course to be delivered well ahead of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s current programme timetable.

 

Drone shots of cinema site as bricks reclaimed

Galaxy Row Project.

Last updated: 22/07/2025.

These photos reveal how the former Galaxy Row cinema in Long Eaton looks now that demolition work is underway, with around 250,000 bricks set to be reclaimed for future construction projects.

Redevelopment work started at the Derby Road site in May, with Total Reclaims Demolition now carefully dismantling the former buildings.

The site will see new homes and commercial units built, including three business premises, plus 16 flats and four townhouses.

It is one of the Long Eaton Town Deal projects which will see £25 million of Government funding invested in the town through various projects, some of which have been completed.

Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “I’m sure everyone in Long Eaton will be as delighted as I am to see these drone pictures of the progress being made at the Galaxy Row site. It’s also great to know that the bricks will be reclaimed and used for other buildings.” 

Tom Spink MRICS, Commercial Director at developer MyPad, said: “The reclaimed bricks will be salvaged, cleaned, and reused where possible, either on future construction projects or via specialist reclamation channels.

This approach ensures that materials are diverted from landfill and repurposed in a sustainable way, contributing to the circular economy.

“Any bricks that are found to be damaged or unsuitable for reuse will be crushed and recycled as construction aggregate, helping to minimise waste and reduce the environmental impact of the works.”

The bricks have not yet been allocated to a specific building project, but any reuse will follow established practices for responsibly sourced reclaimed materials.

Councillor Curtis Howard, Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning, said: “I am thrilled to see how far this project has come and it is even more of a bonus that the historic cinema’s legacy will live on by its bricks being used for future builds.”