Mayor's Column: A busy summer of activities has seen positive results in our area

​Have you seen the UK athletics poster that features golden girl Keely Hodgkinson racing at the 2017 National Cross County Championships in Mansfield, which was organised by Pat Carlin and Mansfield Harriers?

It is a great message that if you dream big and have belief in your ability, you can achieve anything. Mansfield Harriers continue to encourage both young and old to enjoy athletics, having put on another really successful have a go day at Berry Hill Park.

Behind every successful young person are many dedicated coaches whose selfless commitment needs to be recognised and applauded.

Diane Massey, a swimming teacher at the Water Meadows leisure centre, has just celebrated over 30 years of service, highlighting the importance of long-term community engagement and the influence it has on generations of young people.

I was so pleased to officially open the £9.1 million Warsop Health Hub which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget despite all the economic challenges which has hit the construction industry particularly hard.

Besides the swimming pool and gym, this facility, which is being embraced by the local community, will provide a range of health and wellbeing services in partnership with Vibrant Warsop.

Mental wellbeing is an important part of staying healthy, and there have been numerous events in the town centre for residents to enjoy to support this philosophy; having fun is good for you.

Mansfield learning disability pride (OneFest) put on a seven-day festival of music, comedy, theatre, and workshops, followed by three days of the Mansfield Town Film Festival. Jay, our local filmmaker, brought an incredible, diverse selection of films with a strong focus on working-class talent from across the country and internationally to the Palace Theatre.

We are really pleased that we have now completed the installation of two new changing place facilities at the Museum and the Four Seasons Shopping Centre. It is our priority to be inclusive and provide suitable facilities for visitors with profound or multiple disabilities, as well as people with stoma bags.

Dinosaurs have now taken over the museum, so get your youngsters down to see this amazing exhibition that runs until Saturday, October 5.

We are continuing with our mission to help boost the local economy by including social value actions as part of our procurement policy.

In 2023/24, we achieved £18.2 million (37 percent) local spend, and if we include individual contractors in the construction and recruitment categories regionally, this increases to £31.8 million (69 per cent).

We have taken another step in the right direction to back up our climate emergency declaration with real action by building up our fleet of electric vehicles while beginning the phasing out of petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles.

The five more electric vans will also bring significant fuel savings to the council, with around £1,500 saved in diesel per small van and £3,000 for larger vans.

The smaller vans were also considerably cheaper to purchase than their diesel counterparts. It has been a

busy summer, but very positive.