THE developer behind a £100 million regeneration project in Derby could start work on the scheme as soon as November.

Derby's City Council's planning committee this week gave the green light for the first phase of the Castleward scheme, which aims to create an "urban village" on a 30-acre site between the railway station and the city centre.

The first phase will involve the building of 163 homes, 1,500 square metres of commercial space, a central boulevard linking the station and the Westfield shopping centre and an urban park.

Now that the city council has granted permission, developer Compendium Living said that work will begin this winter. The first stage will take place on two hectares of the site and will involve the demolition of existing buildings and general preparation of the land to allow construction work to start.

The Castleward scheme will be built over a period of 15 to 20 years and comprises six phases.

As well as receiving the go-ahead for phase one, the city council has also granted planning permission for the overall project proposals, covering all five proposed phases.

Compendium's managing director Dave Bullock believes the development will create hundreds of jobs, from both its development and once it is completed.

He said: "We are very pleased to have planning permission approved for the first phase of our vision for Castleward. This latest milestone means the transformation of what is currently an unattractive and underused brownfield location into a vibrant urban village can now begin.

"Our plans for Castleward will give the area a truly 21st century feel and includes the creation of a highly desirable range of new homes.

"The city will also benefit economically, as the redevelopment will draw new businesses to the area and help to create hundreds of new jobs."

In total, Compendium's plans for Castleward include 800 homes and 36,500 sq ft of commercial space.

Peter Richardson, chairman of the Derby Renaissance Board, which oversees the city's regeneration, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that these plans have been approved.

"Despite the current economic climate, Derby is continuing to develop and invest and I'm really pleased the council is following this course of action.

"Castleward is an area of untapped potential. It will be great to see more people living in our city centre and for those stepping off the train at Derby Station, they will be presented with a shiny new front door that really represents what Derby is about.

"I look forward to seeing work on the site progressing."

City council leader Paul Bayliss said: "We are pleased that the Castleward development is moving forward and look forward to construction starting on site later this year.

"The project aims to make the city more attractive to residents, visitors and investors and it will provide a sustainable community of around 800 homes, including extensive affordable housing, schools and community spaces and this will be a significant boost for the city.

"Castleward is a key component of the council's ongoing strategy committing us to stimulating the local economy.

"It is vital that we continue to attract quality developers to Derby."

MOTORCYCLE crash victim Mathew Taylor has spoken from his hospital bed to say "thank you" to the people of Derbyshire for raising money to bring him home.

Though he can say only a few words at a time, the 31-year-old, who spent months in a coma, said how "proud" he was of the way county families had rallied to his aid.

Teacher Mathew was critically injured in July 2011 in a motorcycle accident in Bali, where he was working as a teacher.

He was uninsured and his devastated family, who had to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to pay for a series of complex operations in Bali, pleaded for help to get him back to the UK.

After their heartfelt appeal in the Derby Telegraph, donations poured in and they were able to bring him home.

Now, despite initial fears from medical experts he might never recover, Mathew has regained consciousness and spoken of his feelings for the support he has been given.

From his bed at the Royal Derby Hospital, he said: "I am proud of people. I want to say thank you and, when I'm better, I want to try to see some of them.

"My family gave me good luck. Don't give up on people. They didn't."

He is in the King's Lodge unit at the hospital, which provides rehabilitation to patients with complex neurological disabilities. Family members are at his bedside every day.

He said he remembered only a few details about the accident and could not recall his flight back to the UK or his time at Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, before being transferred to Derby. He said his first memories following the crash began after he was transferred to the Derby hospital.

Mathew, formerly of Derby, said: "I remember being read issues of the Derby Telegraph and I'd like to say well done to the paper."

One of the people he wanted to thank especially was 12-year-old Laura Gee, of Carlisle Avenue, Littleover, who played her harp at his hospital bedside and other public events to raise more than £200 to help him recover.

He said: "I wanted to thank her. I'd like to buy her some flowers."

Mathew's father Darrell, of Trowels Lane, Derby, said his son had made good progress in the past few weeks and was whispering words, nodding his head and trying to sit up unaided in bed.

He said: "As you can imagine, Mat is a little confused after a long period of low awareness.

"Mostly, he gets things right when asked but sometimes he doesn't. His short-term memory may be impaired as he sometimes can't remember seeing members of his family earlier the same day. He has asked about the condition of his body and said he is worried about it but doctors have explained to him how he is progressing."

While in hospital, Mathew is given occupational, physio and speech therapy and Darrell said he was very happy with the care his son was being given at the Royal Derby Hospital.

He said: "I'm hopeful that, in time, he can make a reasonable recovery but there are some things he will always struggle with."

CRAIG Bryson has backed new striker Conor Sammon to become a big hit with the Derby County fans.

Sammon made his Rams debut in the defeat at Bolton on Tuesday after completing a £1.2m move from Wigan Athletic.

The 25-year-old will lead the attack against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux today (3pm).

Rams midfielder Bryson was a team-mate of Sammon's at Kilmarnock, where Sammon scored 25 goals in 75 games.

"I know what Conor can do and why the gaffer chased him for so long," said Bryson.

"He scored 18 goals before the end of January in 2010-11 and got his move to Wigan.

"So if we can create chances for him, he can score goals.

"He was a popular player at Kilmarnock and Wigan, and I'm sure he can become a popular player at Derby.

"It takes time for a new player to settle into a club but Conor has settled in quickly and played well against Bolton.

"He needs to get up to match fitness. You can train as much as you want but you need to play games to get that match fitness.

"The gaffer will give him time to settle in. I just hope the fans give him time as well."

Sammon made only 10 starts in his 34 appearances for Wigan and scored one goal but Bryson says there is more to the striker's game than just goals.

"He's a good team player," Bryson added. "He works hard for the team. He will try to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

"He can be a really good player for us."

Substitute Theo Robinson struck deep into injury time to rescue a point for Derby in a 1-1 draw against Wolves at Molineux.

Robinson, dropped from the squad for the game against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Tuesday night, responded in the best possible fashion with his second goal of the season to salvage a 1-1 draw for Nigel Clough's side.

It had looked like Kevin Doyle's first-half strike would be enough for Wolves to get all three points.

Both sides hit the frame of the goal prior to Doyle's strike - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for the hosts and Jamie Ward for Derby.

The Rams had enough of the ball in the second half to get something out of the game and Robinson's effort ensured that they did.

With Matt Jarvis departing for West Ham in a club record deal this week, Wolves manager Stale Solbakken was forced to change a winning team.

Winger Jarvis, unlike last season's top scorer Steven Fletcher who also left Molineux on Friday for Sunderland, had played in both of Wolves' npower Championship fixtures to date, impressing against Leeds and Barnsley. David Edwards replaced him.

Solbakken was forced into another change in midfield, with Karl Henry absent from the squad following his second-half withdrawal during the 3-1 win over Barnsley in midweek. David Davis came in for the Wanderers skipper.

Derby made one change after losing 2-0 at Bolton on Tuesday night with teenager Will Hughes replacing Nathan Tyson, who dropped down to the bench. New signing Kieron Freeman was also among the substitutes for the Rams.

Ebanks-Blake hit the crossbar in the 10th minute after Doyle had knocked the ball into his path just six yards out.

The former Manchester United trainee then saw a header tipped over by Rams goalkeeper Frank Fielding less than a minute later.

At the other end, Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme got a hand to Ward's effort to divert the ball on to a post.

Solbakken's side made the breakthrough 10 minutes before half-time.

Edwards crossed from the right and Slawomir Peszko cleverly shielded the ball from his marker, letting it run across his body and into the path of Doyle who made no mistake from close range.

Ikeme denied Ward again early in the second half.

Richard Keogh should really have got Derby level after 65 minutes but the defender headed over from a corner.

Wolves lead was looking a precarious one and Ronald Zubar should have eased the tension late on but, like Keogh, he missed the target with a header.

It proved costly as Robinson, on as an 80th-minute replacement for Conor Sammon, curled a right-foot shot into the bottom corner in the third minute of added time.

Dean Howell wrote his name into Fleetwood folklore as his goal earned Town a 1-0 win at Burton - their first in the Football League.

The full-back struck the Cod Army's first-ever Football League goal direct from a free-kick two minutes after half-time as the goals dried up for the home team.

Burton had the better of the first half but were unable to repeat the lethal finishing that powered them to a 6-2 midweek defeat of AFC Wimbledon.

Midfielder Jacques Maghoma twice saw shots flash the wrong side of a post and Billy Kee and Justin Richards were denied in quick succession by Fleetwood goalkeeper Scott Davies.

The visitors could have snatched the lead in a breakaway attack in the 38th minute but David Ball missed the target from 15 yards.

The goal Fleetwood had awaited since promotion from the Conference arrived in the 47th minute when Howell angled a free-kick into the far corner with the help of a deflection.

Maghoma had a shot saved at the second attempt and substitute Adi Yussuf fired narrowly wide as Burton battled in vain for an equaliser.

IT WAS a favourite place to sit for the city's street drinkers but a dramatic way to deter them is now being used.

Six-inch-high metal balls on columns have been put on top of a low wall where drunks would perch and intimidate passers-by.

And a business which the wall borders has been so keen to see the alcoholics move on it has helped pay for the deterrent.

The metal studs are outside the Rinkway Autocentre on the corner of Normanton Road and Hartington Street.

Ian Reid is the area manager for Mr Tyre, which owns the Autocentre.

He said the drinkers "congregate together overnight and during the day, intimidating customers and people walking past them".

"Most mornings when our workers get in they are filling up a full plastic bin bag with empty beer cans that have been thrown on to our premises.

"It is a sad way to live a life but it is what they do and we felt it was important to act to protect our business and the people in the area."

The move comes as police crack down on the problem of anti-social behaviour and street drinking in Normanton and Pear Tree.

As well as the metal studs, low fences around Grove Street car park, another hot spot for street drinkers, have been removed.

And a new dispersal order has been imposed, which gives police the power to move on two or more people if they are causing problems in the area.

Residents in Normanton Road yesterday gave their backing to the measures.

Zahir Iqbal, 28, of Rosehill Street, said the drinkers' "shouting, screaming and spitting intimidates older people".

John Challis, 60, of Normanton Road, said: "Since the fencing around Grove Street car park went up a few days ago I have seen fewer of them.

"I think they buy their drink and take it home now."

Sergeant Simon Adams said that the Section 30 dispersal order had been introduced to run alongside Operation Gershwin, which has been tackling street drinking in the area for three years.

It has seen a number of anti-social behaviour orders handed to those caught persistently flouting the law.

He said the order covers roads including Lara Croft Way, Osmaston Road, Reginald Street, Rosehill Street, Peartree Road, Lower Dale Road, Cummings Street and Normanton Road.

It gives his officers the power to move on groups they suspect are causing distress to residents.

People who ignore the order, or who return to the area when they have been dispersed, can be arrested.

Sgt Adams said: "The order gives us additional powers to tackle a range of problems in the area, including drug dealing, prostitution and street drinking.

"We have chosen the area covered by the order because it has seen the most calls to service in relation to nuisance behaviour.

"We always listen to any concerns raised by local residents and businesses and this order shows that we are committed to making the neighbourhood better for everyone."

Councillor Ranjit Banwait is the city council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and Streetpride.

He said: "We know that crime and the fear of crime continue to be key issues for local people and, with our key partners in the city, we are committed to tackling all types of crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The section 30 is a useful tool and we hope it improves the quality of life for our residents and traders and that is demonstrates how seriously we take all reports of antisocial behaviour."

THE father of a boxer jailed after his single blow killed a man has backed the Mayor of Derby's campaign to show One Punch Can Kill.

Clifton Mitchell, who runs the One Nation boxing gym in Derby, said he wanted to send out the message to young people that their hands can be "weapons".

His son, Ty, 21, was found guilty of manslaughter after he punched Leeds University student Jagdip Randhawa in Leeds city centre during a night out in October last year. Mr Randhawa fell and hit his head on the pavement.

On Friday, Mr Mitchell was approached by city mayor Lisa Higginbottom, who is campaigning after her step-brother, Sam Kirk, died two years ago after being punched once.

Miss Higginbottom saw Mr Mitchell in the street and stopped him to ask him to support her campaign and he agreed.

Mr Mitchell said: "Regarding my son's issue, I do think there are two sides to every story and it has an effect on both sides and does damage to both sides.

"I don't think in these cases anyone decides to go out and kill someone. It's a split-second reaction which can have disastrous consequences.

"I'm teaching people how to train, to get fit, to land a punch and defend them and they have to realise that their hands are weapons."

The Mayor has made her One Punch Can Kill campaign one of her main priorities in her year in office.

She hopes that people will think of the consequences of their actions and keep their fists in their pockets instead.

She said she was delighted that Mr Mitchell, whose son was jailed for seven years for manslaughter, had shown his support.

"I think it is very important that you work with the world of boxing to educate people that if you want to punch someone then you do it in the ring and a proper environment and that you are disciplined," said Miss Higginbottom.

"I think the boxing community has a lot to offer and those in it can be huge role models to young people.

"They know that one punch can kill and Clifton's family know the devastation that Ty's punch caused.

"I really want the campaign to be kept clean and not to be critical of anyone. It is straightforward, it is about saying punching can kill.

"If the campaign can stop one person hitting someone then it has worked."

Miss Higginbottom said she wanted as many people as possible to show their support for her campaign.

After he was hit once, Sam, 19, of Mackworth, hit his head on a wall and went into a coma from which he initially recovered. But he then suffered a stroke and his mum, Tracy Higginbottom, had to make the heart-wrenching decision to switch off Sam's life-support machine seven days after the assault.

Mrs Higginbottom has already given her backing to the Mayor's campaign.

Also offering their support are the family of Richard Ziemacki, 29, who was rendered unconscious, and then died, after being hit once following an altercation outside Greggs, in Corn Market, Derby.

WILL Hughes says scoring his first senior goal for Derby County is a moment he will never forget.

The 17-year-old midfielder struck in the 5-1 thrashing of Watford at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

Manuel Almunia pushed out a free kick from Jamie Ward and Hughes sent the ball bobbling back across goal and in off the far post.

"It was lucky it went in – the ball took about an hour to hit the back of the net!" he smiled.

"But it was a great feeling to get my first goal for the club. A proud moment and a moment I will never forget."

Hughes, a former pupil at Repton School, describes playing in Derby's first team at 17 as "amazing".

He was 16 when he made his senior debut as a late substitute in the defeat by Peterborough United at London Road in November.

His second appearance was also from the bench in a 2-1 victory at Portsmouth in the penultimate fixture last season and his first start came a week later in a home draw against Peterborough.

Hughes' composed performance that afternoon impressed supporters and he has featured in all five matches this season, and has started three of the four league games.

"I am thoroughly enjoying it. You have to enjoy it, don't you?" he said.

"To get a chance to play professional football at 17 is amazing. It's brilliant just to be involved.

"However, I have just got to take each step as it comes and keep my feet firmly on the ground.

"Some players at my age would let playing first-team football affect them. They would have their head in the sky thinking they have made it already."

Derby had collected two points from three games before they beat Watford to make it five points from 12.

"We weren't feeling any pressure ahead of the Watford game but it is a bit of a relief to get our first win of the season," said Hughes.

"Our recent performances against the likes of Bolton and Wolves deserved more but to get three points on the board is a great feeling.

"No-one has been down about the results prior to the victory over Watford. We have got the right players in the dressing room and we kept going, kept doing things the right way and thankfully we put it right."

Derby's players will spend the next few days at a training camp in Spain.

With no Championship game scheduled for a fortnight because of the international break, manager Nigel Clough feels keeping the squad together is important.

"The players will be taking in some warm-weather training and it's important to state the players will be working out there," said Clough.

"Although we haven't got a game for a fortnight we want to keeps the spirits up and have the players staying together as a group.

"We've all seen how close they are, on and off the pitch, so we want that relationship to continue to evolve."

A PAIR of friends have spoken of their shock at a random attack which saw them both injured by a drunk man wielding a metal dog lead.

James Clarke, of Ripley, suffered cuts to his head and a black eye after being hit in the face by the man in a random attack.

His friend, Lewis Judd, of Eastwood, had to be treated for bruises to his stomach after being hit twice with the lead.

The pair, both 21 and friends who studied together at Nottingham Trent University, had been dropped off in the middle of Ripley after a night out together in Derby city centre.

Mr Judd, of Devonshire Drive, said: "We just started walking down Chapel Street towards James' house when we saw this man.

"He was clearly intoxicated and was shouting because his dog was off its lead.

"We put our heads down and carried on walking and next thing we know he was standing next to us and swung the metal dog lead at us, hitting James in the face and the head.

"I tried to help but he hit me with the lead twice in the stomach.

"It was all a bit surreal really but we are two young and relatively fit lads so it would have been far worse if the victims had been elderly."

Mr Judd, who has just finished studying biochemistry, said the pair ran back to Mr Clarke's house, where they woke his parents.

They immediately rang 999, concerned that their son and his friend were OK.

Mr Judd said: "James' shoulders had blood all over them from where he had cut his head after being hit by the metal lead.

"Thankfully he was OK. I have no idea why this man targeted us.

"Neither of us had ever seen him before and I don't think he knew us.

"I think it was just a case of us being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Derbyshire police say they are investigating the assault, which happened between 3.15am and 3.35am on Sunday, August 26.

They have taken statements from Mr Clarke, who is about to enter his final year studying microbiology, and Mr Judd and have conducted house to house inquiries.

Officers are now studying CCTV footage from the area in a bid to track down the man.

A Derbyshire police spokesman said the man they were looking for is white, in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5ft 9ins tall and with a shaved head.

He was wearing white tracksuit bottoms and his dog was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog.

The police spokesman said: "This is seemingly a random attack that has left two men injured – one with head injuries and another with injuries to his stomach."

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

MORE than 100 people gathered at Derby Cathedral to say goodbye to a five-year-old boy who died from a rare genetic condition.

Derby County manager Nigel Clough, along with players Gareth Roberts and Shaun Barker, were among guests who attended the funeral of Morgan Mawson, who died on August 15.

The Sinfin boy's death came more than two years after he was diagnosed with infantile Batten's disease, which gradually killed the nerves in his body. It left him struggling to talk or move and caused him to go blind.

A white horse-drawn carriage, the horses wearing orange and white feathers, carried Morgan's small white coffin to Derby Cathedral yesterday. The horses were draped with Derby County flags. Morgan supported the Rams along with Blackburn Rovers.

The pall-bearers included Morgan's uncle Adrian Mann and father Eddie, both wearing orange ties. Orange is a colour associated with Batten's disease.

As the sunlight flooded into the cathedral, guests arrived wearing orange flowers in their hair and on lapels, and carrying orange roses.

The coffin, decorated with a rocket ship and stars, was carried down the aisle to the song, Heaven's Now My Home.

After a welcome from the Rev Canon Elaine Jones, who baptised Morgan while he was in hospital, two members of the Salvation Army, where Morgan and his sister Mia attended Sunday School, took the rest of the service.

Major Ted Benneyworth of the Salvation Army said in an address to the congregation: "Today is a very sad day. I have already seen a few tears. You can shed a few tears but only if you smile at the same time."

Morgan's Uncle Adrian Mann shared his happy memories of Morgan with the congregation, his speech punctuated by tears.

The hymn, Jesus Loves Me! This I Know, which Morgan's mother, Jen, used to sing to her son, was sung.

Jen and Mia then read poems they had written for Morgan, Mia's entitled My Baby Brother. it ended: "You can now rest your head, my sweet baby brother." Jen's poem was called Our Angel. She described Morgan as "my baby bear, my big man".

The funeral procession left the Cathedral to a song from the Lion King called I Just Can't Wait To Be King, which Jen said had soothed Morgan during his time in hospital.