Free magazines and papers

When we lived in Mickleover last winter, we used to receive several free publications:

• a weekly copy of the Derby Telegraph (http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/)
• Country Images magazine, monthly (http://www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk/)
• Mickleover Directory (http://www.mickleoverdirectory.com/)

Between the three of these, plus various local noticeboards and the internet, we had a pretty good idea of what was happening locally. Plus we had the chance to buy a daily copy of the Derby Telegraph, should we wish.

Now we have moved over to Allestree there are two free local publications put through the door every month:

• Allestree Life, produced by Warwick Directories (http://www.warwickdirectories.co.uk/Allestree-Life), which is delivered to over 7,000 homes in Allestree, Darley Abbey and Quarndon.
• Allestree Little Book, which is published and printed by Printhouse LB (Derby) Ltd.

These are both very useful, although Allestree Life does seem to have more information and advertisements and be a more glossy publication.  In it, there are also articles from our local Councillors, Jack Stanton, Philip Hickson and our MP, Pauline Latham.

Unfortunately, however, we don't receive the Derby Telegraph weekly free paper or the Country Images monthly glossy magazine.

I rung up the Country Images office to see whether we'd been forgotten and was told that this magazine was delivered free to many areas but unfortunately not Allestree.  A small number were taken to the Park Farm shopping centre for people to snap up, otherwise we'd have to pay about £13.00 a year for our own copy. 

When I queried this arrangement, as it was free in other areas, I was told that it would not be possible for it to be free everywhere, not even once or twice a year.

Luckily I was talking to a friend who lives in next-door area Darley Abbey and they receive a free copy.  So now she's very kindly offered to pass hers on to us when They've finished with it.  I do wonder, however, if Allestree is the only place in Derby which doesn't receive this interesting magazine.