Dronfield Civic Society Celebrating 25 years of caring for our environment
Web: www.dronfieldcivicsociety.org.uk Email: enquiries@dronfieldcivicsociety.org.uk Photograph Paul Millington Issue 21 Welcome to the December newsle er December 2015 Dronfield Civic Society has been ac ve on a number of fronts over the past three months. We are delighted to be playing a major part in the Safer Dronfield Campaign. This is gaining momentum as many residents are raising traffic issues related to speeding, rat runs, HGVs, parking and the safety of pedestrians. More bulbs have been planted this autumn around the town and we con nue to monitor and report mindless acts of vandalism and fly‐ pping. Now is the me to consider who, within our community has made a significant contribu on to improving the local natural and built environment through the annual A message from JRC award scheme. See inside for details of how you can make a nomina on. Chairman John Harvey We are hopeful that many of you will have entered the new photographic compe on and we look forward to viewing the entries. Happy New Year.
Making Dronfield Safer
Dronfield Civic Society is working for a SAFER DRONFIELD. We plan to forge a united front of residents, schools, churches, police, the local council and businesses to ba le for be er, safer roads across Dronfield. We are co‐ordina ng with residents on Snape Hill Lane, Lea Road and Stubley Lane. We are examining issues like: SPEEDING TRAFFIC RAT‐RUNS on residen al streets 20 MPH extensions PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WEIGHT LIMITED ROUTES FOR HGVs PARKING NEEDS WE SEE THE END RESULT BEING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A DRONFIELD‐WIDE TRAFFIC PLAN See inside for the full story
If you have a couple of hours a month to spare to take the minutes at commi ee mee ngs please contact our Secretary on 01246 418607.
If you are a member and would like to receive this newsle er by email, please contact enquiries@dronfieldcivicsociety.org.uk Campaigning for a SAFER DRONFIELD—It’s Gaining Momentum Residents from across Dronfield are joining forces to fight for greater safety for pedestrians and users of the town’s roads. The campaign group ‘A Safer Dronfield’ held a public mee ng on Tuesday November 3rd at 7 pm in the Civic Hall, Dronfield Civic Centre, to gather ideas and support for a comprehensive traffic plan with the aim of solving the issues of speeding traffic, HGVs on residen al roads and rat‐runs created by the piecemeal traffic management of the past. More than 70 people a ended the mee ng, which is surely indica ve that traffic is a major issue within our town. The campaign aims to forge a united front of residents, schools, churches, police, the local council and businesses to ba le for be er, safer roads across Dronfield. Measures for considera on included:‐ The development of a Dronfield wide traffic plan Measures to enforce speed limits, including community speed watch The expansion of the current 20 mph zone especially around schools The crea on of safe pedestrian crossing areas Weight limited routes to control HGV traffic Parking needs John Harvey, Chairman of Dronfield Civic Society and a campaign spokesman, explained; ‘’We are lucky enough in Dronfield to have a picturesque town centre with o en narrow winding streets and narrow pavements, but with today’s traffic volumes that creates its own problems. We also have had two new supermarkets, Sainsbury’s and Aldi, in recent years which are undoubtedly an asset to the town but which have increased traffic flows. As drivers leave the centre they put their foot down along the o en residen al roads to avoid speed bumps which were installed on the main Chesterfield Road and Holmley Lane in the past. We need a ‘big picture’ traffic plan with prac cal solu ons to avoid this happening.” The catalyst for the campaign was provided by Dronfield Civic Society which brought together three groups of residents from: Snape Hill Lane where residents have been ba ling rat‐running speeding ‘through’ traffic Stubley Lane where residents face speeding traffic and con nuous HGV traffic going to and from Gunstones Lea Road where speeding traffic on a narrow residen al road has the added danger of parked cars hampering visibility Residents who have already contacted the campaign Speeding and Corner Cu ng on the Snape Hill Lane Rat Run group with their concerns also include those from High With thanks to Jill Tingle for these images and for her previous work for the Street, Carr Lane, Green Lane, Longcro Road, Snape Hill Lane residents and recent involvement in this campaign Chesterfield Road and Hallowes Lane. John Harvey urged people to a end the mee ng to have a voice in making Dronfield a safer place. ‘‘ The Civic Society has long campaigned for a safer town and our members tell us that this is an issue of great concern to many residents. We are looking forward to the community raising its collec ve voice to achieve a safer Dronfield.” For further informa on please contact John Harvey on 07766911754 or [email protected] Tribute to our Former Treasurer
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Ian Collins in October. Ian was instrumental in the forma on of the society 26 years ago, and became its first and only treasurer. His commitment to the society was mirrored by his ac ve support of many Dronfield organisa ons including the Scouts and the Parish Church. Ian’s enthusiasm for his town was limitless and we join with many others in our town in passing on our condolences to his wife Gill and the rest of Ian’s family. Discussions are being held about how best to remember Ian. This may be Ian Collins enjoying the fun through the crea on of a new special award in the same way that we at the Dronfield Gala remember John Robert Clough, a former chairman of the society. See below pictured in front of the as it is now me to begin the nomina on process for 2016. DCS stand (aka Ian’s Arabian tent)
It’s That Time of Year Nomina ons for our annual awards begin in January and recognise those who have made a significant contribu on to improving the local built and natural environment in Dronfield and District. The 2015 overall winner was the Cruck Barn on Church Street, one of Dronfield’s oldest buildings which retains its character and charm now as residen al accommoda on. If you would like to make a nomina on for 2016, you can do so using the nomina on form which appears on our website or by wri ng to DCS Secretary 7 Forth Avenue Dronfield Woodhouse S18 8ZG.
Autumn Plan ng for Spring Colour
A big thank you to commi ee member Robert Hardcastle who has undertaken the plan ng of hundreds of daffodil bulbs in Dronfield and Coal Aston this autumn. We shall be keeping a close eye on the grass cu ng team in the spring next year, as it was disappoin ng to note that they cut the flower bulbs too early which is detrimental to the flowering of the bulbs the following year. The area manager will be contacted to avoid a repe on in 2016. Follow‐Up Sta on Signage In our last issue, we commented on the inappropriate new signage near Dronfield Sta on. Commi ee member David Hallam pursued the ma er with the NEDDC Enforcement Inves ga on Officer Sandra Tagg, and this was her response. “We have now carried out a site visit with regard to the signs at Dronfield Sta on. We believe that the signs benefit from deemed consent as they are within the perimeters of the car park. We have however wri en to Network Rail and advised them that concerns have been expressed that they are prominent within the Conserva on Area and requested that considera on be given to replacing the signs with smaller less obtrusive signs.” MAV Spo ng Dronfield Civic Society commi ee members are always on the look out for the Mindless Acts of Vandalism which regularly occur across our town. Damage to the bus shelter on Dyche Lane occurred on the evening of Saturday 3rd October. A commi ee member reported it to Stagecoach the following morning. At the end of August, all three bins between Apperknowle and Hundall were uprooted and thrown onto nearby farmland in a mindless act of vandalism. Members of DCS worked to reinstate the bins and clear li er which had accumulated in the lay‐bys. Perhaps those responsible could answer the ques on on everyone’s lips: WHY?
Washing Away The Evidence More than 15 chemical containers were spo ed in the River Drone along Mill Lane, some of which had already made their way further downstream. A commi ee member reported it to NEDDC and on this occasion someone else had already reported it. If you see any fly‐ pping in our area, help us by repor ng it to the authori es. Report Enviro Crime on 01246 217610 or online www.ne‐derbyshire.gov.uk
What’s Behind the Green Door? There has been a 20% na onal increase in incidents of fly‐ pping over the last year, and our local area is not immune from this type of an ‐social behaviour. We know it is on the increase because most of our newsle ers feature a photograph of it. Commi ee member David Hallam who con nues to press for more ac on on the part of the Council, has recently brought to the a en on of Steve Brunt, the Joint Assistant Director of Streetscene for Bolsover and NED, a pile of rubbish on Callywhite Lane. The small pile to begin with, has been added to over the course of a year. The difficulty with respect to its removal is due we are told to the fact that the rubbish lies on a private road up to an industrial estate, and so is a management responsibility on the part of the businesses rather than a Council responsibility. While the two fac ons sort out whose problem it is, the rubbish con nues to accumulate.
Windmill Lane between Apperknowle and Hundall, Morton Lane and nearby Ash Lane are all problem hotspots. Recent items include: a bathroom suite, more than 60 tyres, ma resses, a chest freezer, a green door, a tree trunk and sizeable piece of wooden board. A commi ee member reported the fly‐ pping on Windmill Lane to NEDDC and it was cleared within two days. But is that the point? The State of the Stoops
You may remember our on‐going involvement and correspondence with Enterprise Inns over the deteriora ng state of the Blue Stoops. Its increasingly dilapidated appearance is a blight in the centre of the Conserva on Area. The Stoops has recently been sold to The True North Brew Co. which already owns a number of pubs, some of which have undergone major refurbishment. DCS has made contact with the new owner, who is currently working on plans for the building in conjunc on with NEDDC. The new owner has indicated that he will "seek our group's input before submi ng relevant applica ons". This is encouraging and we look forward to seeing this important historic building once again gracing the High Street. DCS also raised with Enterprise Inns the long delay in repairing the collapsed wall at the White Swan. The repair of the wall and the crea on of a small outside sea ng area with flower tubs and baskets has enhanced the exterior generally. Unfortunately Enterprise Inns have not taken note of two reminders sent from DCS about repair work needed to the coach house doors and the removal of a tree growing in the gu er at the far end of the building. This lack of maintenance which is not the responsibility of the tenant, is Without a tenant the Stoops has become increasingly once again detrimental to one of Dronfield’s oldest inns. dilapidated. Now, with new owners, we are hopeful that this historic building will be brought back to the standard it deserves. Increasing Noise from Local Hostelries Residents have contacted Dronfield Civic Society because they are being increasingly affected by noise levels emana ng from local hostelries par cularly when music extensions into the early hours are permi ed. Our advice, if you are affected by this problem, is to complain to the Environmental Health Department of NEDDC. In cases like these, numerous individual complaints will be more effec ve than one collec ve voice. SO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Report noise nuisance as an Enviro Crime online at www.ne‐derbyshire.gov.uk or by telephoning 01246 217610 Three Valleys Beer Fes val
Dronfield Civic Society received a number of complaints from members and local residents about the impact of the Three Valleys Beer Fes val held in the town earlier in the year. There were a number of reported crimes and the event caused significant A request for be er li er management for the Beer Fes val disrup on in the town including noise, public disorder, li er and traffic. DCS would support the police if it used its Chairman John Harvey received a telephone call from PC Daryl powers to oppose this event in its Rowbotham a er raising these concerns. PC Rowbotham stated present format. that this year’s numbers had overwhelmed the organisers and the police with as many as 12,000 people taking part.
If the event goes ahead next year, it will see an increase in the number of stewards, be er transport arrangements, li er management and more police deployed, all of which will have to be funded by the organisers. Follow‐Up Dronfield’s Timber Ramp Footbridge
Senior Project Engineer Tim Jeffery has provided DCS with an update following inspec on work on the mber ramp footbridge on 28th and 29th September. The inspec on revealed that the main mbers are suffering from decay due to wet rot to varying degrees. This has reinforced the view that the structure is coming to the end of its serviceable life. Historic England has been contacted with a request to re‐assess the listed status of the ramp. To aid this process, HE has been provided with the results of the inves ga on, the history of the ramp and the survey informa on on the exis ng mbers. There are two scenarios at the conclusion of this process: The ramp will be listed The ramp will not be listed and a Cer ficate of Immunity from lis ng will be issued by Historic England so that it will not be possible for the ramp to be listed for a period of five years therea er. This will provide certainty in the development of a scheme to replace or refurbish the ramp. DCC would prefer replacement with a modern structure that maintains the overall design of the ramp but the outcome will be guided by Historic England’s re‐assessment process which could take several months to complete. Branching Out Birds...Hedgehogs...Bats... Commi ee member David Hallam con nues to work with youngsters from local schools on various environmental projects. Last year David produced flat pack bird box kits and designed a box to encourage hedgehogs into school grounds. This year David has branched out into flat pack bat boxes. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are currently running a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of the decreasing numbers of hedgehogs. According to research by People’s Trust for Endangered Species, hedgehogs have declined by 30% in the last 10 years alone and there are thought to be fewer than one million le in the UK. DWT has put out a na onal call to ac on to help our remaining hedgehogs. There is a compe on to design the best hedgehog home (no doubt David will be taking up that challenge) and a ‘knit a hedgehog’ campaign aimed at raising awareness through social media. A hedgehog kni ng pa ern is available from: h p:www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk Knit a hedgehog, a ach a label and give your crea on a name. Then take a photograph of it and put it on social media. Leave your hedgehog in a place for others to find. In true Blue Peter fashion…. here’s one we made earlier.
DCS Photographic Compe on Just a reminder that it is not too late to enter the DCS Photographic Compe on. Judging of entries will commence at the end of March. Full details and entry forms can be found on our website. This compe on is held in conjunc on with Dronfield Camera Club and is Working with students from Dronfield Junior School and Stonelow Junior School sponsored by Stauff UK. Did You Have Your Say? Dronfield residents have been encouraged to have their say on how they want their town to be developed. Design consultancy OPUN has been working with NEDDC to ensure that consulta ons capture the different needs of the local community. The process is aimed at steering the development of the regenera on frameworks and will underpin the focus on growth, helping to protect, shape and drive change. The frameworks will then be adopted into the Local Plan. Comments have been passed to DCS about the lack of publicity for these events which were inevitably poorly a ended. Chair of Dronfield Civic Society John Harvey submi ed a response on behalf of the society and we are hopeful that these views will be represented at the follow‐up event on Wednesday 25th November 6‐8 pm in Dronfield Civic Hall. Consulta on on Regenera on Framework for Dronfield Economy Housing Public Transport & Traffic We support the desire to DCS notes the shortage of Transport connec vity in improve the vibrancy of the smaller affordable housing Dronfield is inadequate. Steps town and support local and supports the need for should be taken to develop a businesses whose growth is currently such housing using brownfield sites transport hub at the railway sta on by restricted by the lack of adequate within se lement boundaries. There ensuring that bus routes serve the sta on. parking. Dronfield town centre are poten al sites for housing without Provision of addi onal car parking is including Dronfield Bo om is suffering the need to extend beyond the needed to serve the needs of rail as can be demonstrated by the number exis ng se lement boundary. passengers. The previous district plan of charity shops (three in the Civic Poten al sites for such housing: indicated an extension to parking at the Centre). New ventures have difficulty Areas known as Alma and Holmley, sta on "when the need arises". Surveys becoming established both in the formerly housing demolished in the indicate that addi onal long term parking Forge and on Dronfield Bo om. There six es and now underused open is needed NOW. Dronfield businesses, are a growing number of charity space. In the 19th Century this area par cularly on Dronfield Bo om suffer shops , be ng shops, fast food outlets, contained more than 100 dwellings. from the lack of adequate parking as beauty salons and estate agents whilst The former stables & NEDDC offices to confirmed by our survey in 2014. more tradi onal retail shops have lost rear of the Library owned by NEDDC On November 3rd 2015 75 residents out to the supermarkets. We are would be suitable for affordable a ended a public mee ng arranged by par cularly concerned about the housing units with a convenient DCS and residents’ groups to launch a number of fast food outlets especially loca on for all services. campaign for a safer Dronfield. This was those close to schools. The old Padley & Venables site has supported by Dronfield Town Council and Callywhite Lane con nues to be the the poten al for improvement both the Police. A key message from that loca on of larger scale business for employment and residen al use if mee ng is that pedestrians do not feel ac vity in the town. However this area solu ons regarding access without safe in the town and there is an urgent con nues to suffer from neglect and passing through exis ng residen al need to provide safer crossing points and environmental degrada on. areas can be addressed. to focus on the needs of pedestrians. Older people and those with disabili es Environment and Heritage are par cularly disadvantaged. Priority Dronfield has limited open space within the town. We encourage should be given to the development of a measures which support the sensi ve management of such open coherent traffic management plan for the spaces as Lea Brook Valley and Frith Wood. The Civic Society is also town with the aim of reducing car use, giving priority to the restora on and management of the Mill Lane nature area increasing the use of public transport and and seeks NEDDC support for this. Dronfield Civic Society supports the making our streets safer for pedestrians. protec on of green spaces and especially the narrow areas of green belt Piecemeal calming and 20 mph zones between Dronfield and Unstone and Dronfield and the Sheffield boundary. We have resulted in unintended regard such areas as sacrosanct and they should be permanently protected from consequences. Drivers tend to use the development. We support the aims which recognise the importance of heritage non‐traffic‐calmed roads. The District assets including conserva on areas. The conserva on areas within Dronfield Council should give priority to working have been subject to neglect and oversight and there is an urgent need to review with the Town and County Council to the Character Statements which are now over 15 years old. address these issues in Dronfield.
The Need for a Neighbourhood Plan The complete document wri en by A town the size and importance of Dronfield should develop a neighbourhood John Harvey on behalf of DCS can be plan within the framework of the District Plan. This would enable Dronfield to found on our website. have a stronger voice to influence development in the town. 2016…..Upcoming Events for the New Year…..2016 Please note our talks at St Andrew’s now commence at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday 20th January ‘At Risk? Dronfield’s Hidden History’ From phone boxes to pit houses, Council Schools to coke ovens Chairman John Harvey explores a few of Dronfield’s under‐valued historic assets and reveals why such features may be worthy of local lis ng. Wednesday 17th February The Railway Between Dore and Chinley, the Hope Valley Line by Ted Hancock The 21‐mile line took six years to build. The terrain through Hope Valley and Edale was easy enough by Midland standards, but at each end there were formidable obstacles, nego ated by means of the Totley and Cowburn Tunnels. DORE & TOTLEY.TOTLEY TUNNEL.GRINDLEFORD.HATHERSAGE.RIVER DERWENT.BAMFORD. HOPE. EARLES SIDINGS.EDALE.COWBURN TUNNEL.CHINLEY Wednesday 16th March Tools for Self Reliance An interes ng presenta on by Peter Dumenil of Bakewell about the work of this na onal charity. Tools for Self Reliance collect and refurbish old and unwanted tools which are then made up into kits and sent to developing countries. A truly beneficial scheme which enables the recipients to set up and develop their own small businesses. ALLEN KEY ANVIL AWL BICYCLE PUMP BOLSTER BRACE BRADAWL CHISEL CLAMP DIVIDERS DRILL BIT FILE GIMLET GOUGE HACKSAW HAMMER HATCHET JIGSAW MALLET MATTOCK OILSTONE PICKAXE PIPE BENDER PLANE PLIERS PUNCH RASP RULE SANDER SAW SCISSORS SCREWDRIVER SCRIBER SEWING MACHINE SHEARS SPADE SPANNER SPITRIT LEVEL TINSNIPS TROWEL TWEEZERS VICE WIRE BRUSH WRENCH
Readers’ Feedback BACK ISSUES OF OUR NEWSLETTERS ARE AVAILABLE TO READ IN PDF FORMAT ON OUR WEBSITE Dear John, “I only joined the society in April and cannot a end all mee ngs due to other commitments, but I really enjoy the newsle er. It is so informa ve about what's going on in Dronfield and it also shows what good work the society contributes to our community. Thank you.” Maureen Taylor
Dronfield Civic Society is sponsored by Stauff If you would like to become a sponsor of Dronfield Civic Society UK Ltd. Experts in the UK hydraulic industry please contact us at enquiries@dronfieldcivicsociety.org.uk for since 1977 www.stauff.co.uk further details. An Invita on to Renew Your Membership From April 1st 2016 Dronfield Civic Society invites you to renew your membership. Annual subscrip on charges are £8.00 singles, £12.00 couples/families and £25.00 for small businesses/schools and associa ons. Many members now opt to pay by Standing Order. Our details, should you wish to pay by this method, are: NatWest Dronfield sort code 60‐40‐09 account no 09430342 Cheques should be made payable to Dronfield Civic Society and posted to: Mrs J Singleton (Membership Secretary) The Willows A, Main Road, Unstone, Dronfield S18 4AB.
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