Earlier today, I met local media at the new Broad Marsh car park so they could see for themselves what a fantastic new facility it is ahead of its opening next Monday. As well as its great green features, it has excellent safety standards and with a special parking management system, finding a space will be easy. We have set out all you need to know about using the new car park, including how to get there, ticket prices, how to pay and how to use the electric charging points at the website here. It?s worth knowing that for the first two weeks, we are offering a ?5 all day price.

You can watch a video highlighting the benefits of the new car park here.

As many of our school, college and university students will be returning to the classroom next week, I want to encourage everyone to take a rapid Covid-19 test on Sunday.

We must all do our bit to ensure a safe return to the classroom and check we are not carrying the virus.

Many of us will have enjoyed visiting family and friend this half-term, perhaps even travelling further afield?or spending more time in attractions, shops, restaurants and public transport. Unfortunately we may have exposed ourselves to the virus.

As around?one in?three people with COVID-19 don?t have any symptoms of the virus, regular?rapid testing helps us uncover hidden cases of Covid-19 that would otherwise go undetected.

So please, if you have a box of tests at home, take one on Sunday. Or you can nip to our mobile testing unit on Smithy Row in Nottingham City Centre which is open Saturday and Sunday for testing (or to pick up a box). Results take any 30 minutes to show, and you could be saving a life.

You can also pick up a box of tests from a local pharmacy, but now you need to pre-register to be able to do this. Further guidance is available by clicking here.

This week I joined Cllr Cheryl Barnard, other councillor colleagues and volunteers to raise money for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a charity that has given 250,000 books to children aged 0-5 years in Nottingham.

We were shaking buckets outside the Theatre Royal with audience members of the ?9 to 5? show giving generously to help keep the scheme going.

The book-gifting charity was introduced in the city in 2009 and over 9,000 children have been part of the scheme and had free books delivered to their door every month ? covering ten of the city?s 20 wards. Every year myself and other councillors raise awareness and money for the charity by reading to children and Cllr Barnard and myself will be doing the same again this year later in November. In January last year our Reading Challenge raised ?6,121 for the Imagination Library in Nottingham, reading to more than 8,300 people at schools, libraries, nurseries and children centres.

More information about the Imagination Library in Nottingham and how you can donate to support it is available at?www.dollybooksnottingham.org

Exciting to see the trailer for the new HBO/Sky production of Landscapers ? starring Academy Award winner, Olivia Coleman and David Thewlis which has just been released. The series was shot in Nottingham and Mansfield earlier this year and we?ll be able to watch it in December. The council was pleased to help Sister Productions with sourcing and securing a number of locations, including Old Market Square and even the roof of Loxley House. During filming in March and April, the Landscapers cast and crew were all based in Nottingham, providing a significant boost to our local hospitality industry.?

You can watch the trailer here which includes scenes shot at Nottingham Train Station.?

Landscapers is the first of two major TV shoots in the city this year, as filming is also underway for Without Sin: a four-part, prime-time thriller for ITV, starring Nottingham?s own Vicky McClure.

While it was disappointing that our bids for Levelling Up Government funding for the Broad Marsh and Island Quarter sites were not successful in this round, I was pleased that we have been allocated the full ?18m we bid for in relation to transport improvements.

This funding focuses on investment in issues raised by our communities - at the heart of neighbourhoods where the money can make a real difference. The programme has three investment themes:

Streets for people: Identified by local people and prioritised by ward councillors, this will involve minor works to improve the condition of pavements, cycle paths and roads, more dropped crossings, and new links to improve access to local centres such as Bulwell, Hyson Green, Sherwood and Clifton. Neighbourhood signing, street trees and landscaping can also benefit from the funding.

School Streets: Building on the success of the Active Travel Fund programme that has put in place trial measures to encourage more walking, scooting and cycling to schools during lockdown, work with residents and schools will be expanded to make more areas around school entrances safer, with less traffic and more inviting approach routes.

Greener Streets: A large-scale upgrade of our street lighting to bring the lamps up to modern LED standard will be carried out across the city, contributing to significant energy savings while maintaining high-quality lighting standards. It also involves expanding our network of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points in residential areas with limited off-street parking.

For the Broad Marsh and Island Quarter sites, we will be engaging with the Government who have offered feedback sessions to unsuccessful places to support applications into the next Levelling Up Fund round in spring next year.

I hope many of you will be able to take advantage of some 'spooky Halloween fun' this weekend at?our tourist attractions.

Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey and Wollaton Hall and Deer Park have jam packed schedules for all the family to enjoy.

You can discover Titus the?T. rex?s?bone-chilling and spook-tacular?skeleton at Wollaton Hall, as well as spooky skeletons in the Wollaton Park outdoor skeleton trail. You can book online at? https://wollatonhall.org.uk/october-and-halloween/

Newstead Abbey is hosting gothic house tours, as well as an indoor pumpkin trail ,'Spooky Spells'?outdoor trial and a family ghost walk. Or for those over 18 - you can 'Meet the Ghosts' during the evening house tours. You can find out more here.

At Nottingham Castle you can meet the??It?s in Nottingham? Ghostbusters and their famous car, ECTO-1 as they hunt out ghosts in the Castle grounds this weekend. The car will be on display for visitors from 10am - 4pm alongside the heroic Ghostbusters. There is no charge to meet and greet the team - and perhaps even?take a selfie!

Inside the Ducal Palace, there will be lots of creepy craft activities to try and a chance to explore the enchanted history and stories behind some of the objects in the Castle's collection. You can enjoy these activities as part of your regular admission price.

Or if Halloween isn't your thing - you can still?enjoy the beautiful grounds around our tourist attractions and perhaps grab a gift or treat from the shop or caf?.

Whatever you do - I hope you all enjoy your weekend safely.