Duffield Action Plan
May 2015
Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Introduction
Duffield, in 2015, is as popular as ever. Its transport It takes over from the previous Parish Plan, published links, variety of housing and excellent schools, friendly in 2005. The current Plan is based on considerable local community and sports and outdoor facilities consultation activities with residents and business in combined make our village a much sought-after place Duffield – all of which are described further on page 5 to live. below. The Duffield Action Plan aims to continue to improve This is a lovely place to live and we should like to use the facilities for all ages in the village and to build the this opportunity to help everyone who lives here to community. It sets out the priorities that the people of feel part of the Action Plan and part of making it Duffield have identified as important in order to happen. inform the Parish Council (DPC), Duffield Community This document is available on the DPC website at Association (DCA) and other organisations as to what www.duffield.gov.uk. It is also available in paper form facilities and improvements are wanted and needed in from the Library on Wirksworth Road. the village.
Corner of Wirksworth Road; Millennium Meadow; St. Alkmund’s Church.
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Summary of Priorities Parking and Transport Community and Culture Improve the parking in the village by: Improve the communication in the village, its organisations and its events by: Introducing waiting time limits on Chapel Street; Republishing the Village Guide; Reviewing waiting time limits on Town Street; The Village Guide being available on DPC, DCA Discussion with Railtrack regarding the parking and other web sites; at Duffield Station; Developing and launching a "virtual village Increasing car parking capacity in the village; hall": a new web site with a Community section Commissioning a report on traffic calming, for village organisations, events etc; traffic flow and pedestrian safety to lobby the Creating a new Village Map to be displayed in County Council; prominent places in the village. Improving public transport by replacing the old Elderly and Isolated People bus shelters in the village. Improve the facilities for these people by: Big Builds Promoting the Weston Centre as a central Investigate options to replace the closed Public Toilets meeting point; on Chapel Street. Setting up an outreach and advocacy facility to Open Spaces and Environment combat loneliness and isolation; Bringing together the formal and informal Providing recreation facilities for older children, groups working with elderly and isolated teenagers and adults on Gray Recreation Ground. people. Liaising with the Borough Council to increase the Town Street; number of litter bins in the village. Gray Recreation Ground; The King’s Head public house.
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Duffield Parish Set in the valley of the River Derwent, five miles north Local recreational facilities within the village include a of the City of Derby and on the southern fringe of the thriving tennis and squash club and the Chevin Golf Peak District, Duffield has excellent road links and Course. The Parish Council's Eyes Meadow and Gray public transport via bus or rail is frequent. Our local Recreation Ground provide a home for both organised authority is Amber Valley Borough Council within the and informal cricket and football teams and many county of Derbyshire; we have had our own Parish other activities, including a recently upgraded Council since 1897 and a Village Community children’s play area at Gray Rec, and the popular Association was formed in 1972. The thriving market annual Duffield Carnival at Eyes Meadow. Beautiful town of Belper is situated three miles north of the countryside on our doorstep includes the Chevin, village. Bunker’s Hill and Quarndon Common. The village offers a range of services and facilities We are home to two primary schools, Duffield including churches, a post office, library, medical Meadows and William Gilbert, and the Ecclesbourne centre and vet, day nursery, independent shops, School, which cater very well for the needs of local salons, pubs and restaurants. children. Places at Ecclesbourne are highly sought- after and there has been a knock-on effect on house prices; over the last five years the average house price in Duffield was 71% higher than the Belper average and 96% higher than Derbyshire as a whole. (source: Zoopla.co.uk)
The White Hart public house; The Chevin Golf Club; Eyes Meadow.
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Duffield in facts and figures Duffield England average Duffield has a population of just over 5,000 (5,045) spread Population make-up across 2,030 households. Looking at the data we can see Sex that: Male 48% It is a growing village – the population of 5,045 in the Female 52% 2011 Census is higher than the equivalent figure in 2001 Age of 4585. The number of households has also increased Children under 16 21% 19% from 1945 in 2001 to the current number of 2030; Working age adults 55% 65% Whilst the gender balance is roughly in line with that Older people over 65 23% 16% across England, Duffield varies from this national average Ethnicity in two ways, in that: White 93% 80% It has a lower proportion of people from Black or minority ethnic group 7% 20% black/minority ethnic groups at 7% (compared to Education attainment 87%* 59% national average of 20%); and Household formation It has a higher proportion of older people (aged over Single parent families 16% 25% 65) at 23% (compared to 16% nationally) and a lower Single pensioner households 18% 12% proportion of working age adults (55% compared to Wealth measures 65% nationally). The proportion of children aged 16 Unemployment 0.7% 1.7% and under is more or less at the same level as the Average household income £44,562 £36,024 (Amber Valley national average; Borough average) It is a relatively prosperous village. The proportion of the Home ownership 81% 64% population that is long term unemployed is lower than Average house prices £320,202 £246,472 the national average and household income is a quarter higher than the Borough average (at £44,562 compared Source: information collated by Amber Valley Borough Council 2014 to £36,024). As a result, home ownership rates are House prices: zoopla.co.uk (average over past five years) higher, even despite the much higher average house * % of Ecclesbourne school pupils achieved A*-C in 5+ GCSEs, including Maths & English in 2013 prices in the village.
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spaces and recreation); village organisations; and Duffield Action Plan business and tourism. It’s now 10 years since the Parish Council (DPC) A youth champion and an elderly person champion formally consulted the Parish on its views as to what were appointed to ensure that the voices of the old was needed in the village. A lot can change in 10 years. and young were considered in the process. DPC in 2014 decided to find out what the village The village's views were obtained by a wide range of wanted and form a new plan. Its aim was a plan for all consultation activities, including the organisations and people in the village, not just for DPC. Inviting comments on the Duffield Action Plan website, which was created specifically for the The Action Plan sets the priorities for the future. The development of the Action Plan; plan’s aims are: The BIG consultation at the Duffield Carnival on 21 To inform DPC as to what facilities and June 2014. Over 120 people gave their views on improvements are required in the village; what is great in the village and what could be To inform community groups and voluntary groups improved in the village. The results of this about what additional services are wanted in the consultation formed the basis of the working group village; discussions. To provide evidence to support funding bids; and Direct discussions with residents To be used to press for improvements in services Working Group discussions/consultation provided by the County and Borough Council. Letters/emails and questionnaires to Steering Group members So it can make a real difference in improving the A public meeting on 17 January 2015 to discuss the village and people's lives. Steering Groups suggested priorities. Over 100 DPC arranged a meeting at the Weston Centre on people attended and assisted the Steering Group in 8 March 2014. Over 50 people attended and some prioritising the projects. volunteered to be more involved in the process. Each of the Working Groups has reported on its theme A Steering Group was set up and Working Groups to and these sub-reports are available on request. Hazelwood Road Cemetery; River Ecclesbourne; work on different issues, namely: transport and Cricket Pavilion, Eyes Meadow. transportation; environment (including litter, open Page 6 of 16
Duffield Action Plan May 2015
some rail users parking all day on Chapel Street, Priorities reducing parking availability for others and to The process we followed has allowed us to identify a knock-on effects of inappropriate parking on High number of priorities to improve our village. It needs to Street and King Street. Suggested actions to be noted that there are a number of key organisations improve the parking situation are: that have different areas of responsibilities across For DPC to request DCC limit Chapel Street these priorities. These include Derbyshire County parking to 2 hours; Council (DCC), Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC), The APG to negotiate to develop new car Duffield Parish Council (DPC), the Duffield Community parking capacity at the Ecclesbourne Valley Association (DCA) and the Duffield Village Action Plan Railway site and on Eyes Meadow, and discuss Group (APG). with other private car parks the public using them within set times; Traffic and transportation The APG to open discussions with Network Rail Responsibility for issues such as speed control, road about car parking charges at the railway layout, and so on lie with DCC. So the priorities we station. have identified here are either (i) issues where the APG The restrictions on Chapel Street will be dependent can start to act immediately or (ii) those for which DPC upon and would not be introduced until the new should lobby DCC. car parking facilities are developed and open. The priorities for which the APG can immediately take Encouraging more cycling in the village by: action are: DPC continuing to support the development of Improve parking in the village. There is the Derwent Valley Cycle Path; and acknowledged to be a general shortage of parking DPC erecting bike parking stands at two in the village, and has been for some time (it was locations on Town Street. mentioned in the 2005 Village Action Plan). It is Improve bus shelters: DPC has embarked on a likely that the situation has worsened since then, programme of replacing and improving bus Town Street, south-north; with increased car use and the introduction of car shelters in the village and will continue to do this Town Street, north-south; parking charges by Network Rail. This has led to at a rate of two per year. Parking, Chapel Street.
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
The remainder of the Traffic and Transportation issues Consider additional pedestrian crossings, are within the control of the County Council. We will particularly at Park Road and Cumberhills; create a lobbying document which gathers these issues Install traffic barriers on Vicarage Lane to protect together. It is proposed that the APG (with support school children and parents attending William from DPC) produce a report which is then reviewed by Gilbert Primary School; a Traffic Consultant and the final report be used to Improve pavements: we have many requests to lobby the County Council for action. improve pavements. DPC will conduct a pavement In summary, the issues are: survey to highlight where these would best be improved. This could begin immediately, though it Investigate traffic calming measures: numerous will require County Council approval for any works actions to calm traffic entering Duffield on the and be subject to funding. This would be a good variety of routes. This specifically needs to include opportunity to improve walking in the village; King Street, which appears to be the main cause of Take action to improve traffic issues on concern, but also the speed of traffic entering the Wirksworth Road, to include actions to improve village along the A6 and down the Wirksworth legal parking and prevent illegal parking. This may Road. This should begin immediately but we need be a longer-term objective, because it may be to be clear that delivery will be longer term, it is expensive. But the benefits are substantial: it solely in the control of the County Council and may would improve traffic flow and reduce danger for be expensive; (mainly school children) pedestrians. Improve traffic flow on Holloway Road, via a small intervention to create passing places. The cost would be minimal, though it may face some opposition from local residents immediately around the passing places. Consider specific parking issues to include King Street/Champion Hill, Tamworth Street, Park Road Hazelwood Rd Cemetery Chapel; and Chapel Street; Allotments alongside the Cemetery; River Derwent.
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Big builds their toilet facilities without them necessarily being customers. This would then allow the demolition of ‘Big builds’ are those issues identified as priorities that the existing toilets, restore the walling and require considerable capital spend. The reality of the reinstate the views down the River Ecclesbourne. funding situation is that monies for such a capital However, the toilets would only be open during spend may not be available and so we have also the businesses opening hours; explored alternative ways of meeting the needs Option 2: provide toilet facilities on the existing identified. site by either (i) refurbishing the existing toilet Public toilets block, (ii) demolishing the existing toilet block and The Public Toilets on Chapel Street are owned by building a new purpose-built toilet block in its Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC), AVBC was also place or (iii) finding a suitable site elsewhere in the responsible for their upkeep when they were open. village and installing a purpose-built toilet block. AVBC closed the toilets in 2014 and since then there The cost of this will be between £40,000 - £60,000 have been no public toilet facilities in the village. A key depending on which option is chosen. priority identified in the consultation was to re-open DPC should explore and develop these options. the toilet facilities. Village Hall or Community Centre The problem with the current toilet facilities is that Duffield does not have a specific Village Hall and there they are very dilapidated and in poor repair: they has long been a call for the village to have a Village Hall could not be re-opened in their current condition. or Community Centre: indeed that was one of the Aesthetically, the building is generally regarded as an founding reasons of the DCA. This desire was still eyesore. There are two main options here: evident in the responses to the consultation. However, Option 1: provide alternative toilet facilities in the due to lack of suitable land and property and the cost village by encouraging businesses on Town Street of land/property in the village, the APG considered (cafes and pubs) to take part in the Community that this priority was simply unachievable and makes Toilet Scheme. This scheme, co-ordinated by AVBC, no proposals to develop it further. Chapel Street toilet block; gives businesses a small grant each year in return Appletree Medical Practice, which takes part in
for which they allow members of the public to use the Community Toilet scheme; The Weston Centre. Page 9 of 16
Duffield Action Plan May 2015
However, the village is not deficient in facilities. It has necessary to draw up plans. Planning approval will be numerous halls and rooms for hire, including The needed and funding will be required for the project to Weston Centre, St Alkmunds Church Hall, the succeed. There are a number of residential properties Methodist Church and Ecclesbourne School facilities, adjacent to the Recreation Ground that will be which are more than sufficient for the village’s needs. affected by any further development and their views What we want to do is to improve information on and will be sought. access to these facilities by creating a ‘Virtual Village DPC could investigate acquiring the land next to the Hall’ – this can be achieved through DPC’s new web Recreation Ground, behind the Ecclesbourne site, that will detail all the Halls For Hire with capacity, Meadows development, to expand the recreational rental and other details along with email contacts to area of the Gray Recreation Ground. book the facilities. DPC and DCA will continue to support the Community Improving our Open Spaces and Environment Orchard and the work of DerwentWise on the land A key priority in the Consultation was to develop the behind Ecclesbourne Meadows. Gray Recreation Ground for teenage and adult DPC, after consulting the village during 2013/14, is recreation. The Gray Recreation Ground is in the improving Eyes Meadow Recreation Ground by: centre of the village. It is owned and maintained by increasing the number of litter bins, increasing parking, DPC. The Recreation Ground currently has a children's increasing picnic benches and installing a barbecue, play area and football pitches. and renovating the Parish Changing Rooms. A continuing theme in the 2005 Parish Plan and the Litter was frequently mentioned during the current consultation was the need to provide facilities consultation and we consulted on where the village for teenagers, which are thought to be lacking in the would like litterbins placing. DPC should liaise with village. AVBC to try to achieve these requests. DPC, with assistance from the DCA and the Action Plan Group will investigate the installation of an open air Emmanuel Christian Centre, home of the facility for older children, teenagers and adults on the popular ‘Massive’ youth club; Gray Recreation Ground. Further consultation will be Gray Recreation Ground; Housing at Ecclesbourne Meadows.
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
The Village, Culture and Community The final priority was more information on the village, DPC’s new web site will have up to date information its organisations and more village events. It was clear about village events and news, clubs and societies, from the responses that people love living in the details of halls to hire and lists of village organisations village and want to engage fully in all it has to offer. and businesses. DPC will continue to communicate People also want more village-wide events. The village through social networks, the newsletter in the Duffield already has a hugely successful carnival organised by Scene, notice boards and online. the DCA and an annual fireworks and bonfire night DPC and DCA should continue to work with the organised by DPC. Recently the DCA has started an numerous village organisations and publish events and annual art competition. news on their behalf. The DCA already publish a Village Guide and map and DPC and DCA should continue to support and facilitate there is (somewhere) in circulation a village footpath events in the village. 2015 will be the first year that the guide. The DCA also circulate a monthly newsletter village has its own music festival, scheduled for July, which details what is on for the forthcoming month. and arts festival scheduled for October. This, however, does not reach every household in the village. In order to meet this priority the following should be done: The DCA should republish its Village Guide and map which will be available from the Weston Centre and on both the DPC and DCA web sites. The village map should be available to view on the DPC Notice Board, the Community Notice Board at Appletree Medical Practice, Ecclesbourne Valley Duffield Carnival; Railway, the Library and the Weston Centre. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway; The Pattenmakers public house.
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The Elderly and Isolated between 10am and noon on each weekday morning. Each Monday another group of volunteers provides An additional Working Group was set up to look the lunch for about 20 elderly people who are brought needs of the Elderly and Isolated and the proposals from their homes to the centre by Community from this Working Group are: Transport. On a Friday morning there is a “Chairobics” A central meeting place is established for the class, a chiropodist attends monthly on a Tuesday Elderly and Isolated to meet and access advice, morning, and a hearing advisor from Hearing Help assistance and services. (Amber Valley) attends on the first Friday morning of each month. It appears that the RJ Weston Charity and An outreach service is set up-to provide visits the Weston Centre are best placed to fill the central to combat loneliness and isolation and provide meeting point need. advice and advocacy services. The RJ Weston Trust Deed allows for the setting up of The various formal and informal groups in the an outreach service. In addition, Emmanuel Church village that care for, assist or provide services who set up Massive Youth Club have expressed an to the elderly and isolated should meet interest. These and other interested groups need to regularly to share information and avoid work together to establish a service. duplication. The Action Plan Group will set up a Project Group to With regard to the central meeting place, the RJ investigate and attempt to deliver these proposals. Weston Charity's objects are to provide a day centre for "residents of the Parish who would, in the opinion of the Charity Trustees, benefit from use of the day centre, and who have either attained the age of at least 60 years or have retired under that age on the ground of ill-health or from occupations where retirement under the age of 60 years is normal". Shops and services on Town Street The centre is staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers and corner of Tamworth Street. who serve tea, coffee and biscuits at a nominal charge
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
What Next? We need your help to get these projects off the ground. If you'd like to assist with any of the projects in the Action Plan please contact the Parish Council Clerk on 01332 842740 or by email on [email protected]. Approval and adoption of the Plan All the organisations that can deliver or influence or fund the projects in the Plan need to sign up to it. Once approved and adopted by the organisations they will be bound to consider the Plan in the budget setting and decision-making. The Action Plan Group and DPC will set up Project Groups to investigate, move forward and report on the projects Timetable for actions The timetable for implementation of the Projects is on the next two pages. The Action Plan Group and organisations including DPC and DCA will inform the village of developments through the Duffield Scene and the DPC and DCA web sites.
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Timetable for actions
Action 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
Organisations adopt Plan
Encourage cycling
Install bike racks
Continue to support development of DVSC
Parking solutions
Explore and develop alternative parking capacity
Change parking restrictions in Chapel Street
Traffic management
Commission traffic report
Lobby DCC
Ongoing actions dependent on the above
Re-open toilet facilities
Investigate options for replacing public toilets
Implement recommended actions
Improve bus shelters
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Timetable for actions Action 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1
Increase No. of Litterbins
Open Spaces
Working Group to investigate options for teenage/adult facility on the Gray Rec
Working group to consult on proposals
Proposals to be adopted by DPC
Funding and Planning permission applied for
Project implementation
Culture and community
Republish Village Guide
Virtual Village Hall
Village Map
Elderly and Isolated People
Working Group to investigate options
Implementation of Projects
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Duffield Action Plan May 2015
Adoption of Plan
Duffield Action Plan was adopted by: Organisation Date Signature Duffield Parish Council 20 May 2015
Duffield Community Association
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