Special meeting on Sunday 27th November

INFORMATION MEETING FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

SUNDAY 27^TH NOVEMBER 2-4PM AT ALTON COMMUNITY CENTRE , GREGORY’S WAY.

We now have two important reports available , and  want to discuss them and give information about the details to all interested members of the public.
The reports are provided by an independent organisation called AECOM and are a standard element in Neighbourhood Plans.

The first is a Housing Needs Assessment which identifies ,calculates and evidences the housing needs for the town until 2028.

The second is a Heritage and Character Assessment which details the unique nature of Belper and area, what we want to preserve and how to manage any change.

 
Both these documents will be released as supporting documents for the final Neighbourhood plan, and we believe that residents will be interested and encouraged by their contents. 

If you can, do come along for what will be an interesting and lively discussion.

Belper Market Place Traffic Survey -- initial report

With the help of Transition Belper and some other fantastic volunteers (who will be acknowledged in the final report) we managed to complete the dawn till dusk traffic survey. There will be a detailed report emerging over the next few days but here is an initial brief look at some of the collated data.

A graph showing private cars passing the Market Place survey point - from NP4B survey data

And here is a basic summary:

As stated above, this is just an initial look at the data and a more complete analysis will follow in the very near future. Next steps will be be look at HGV, motorcycle and cyclist data and to compare our findings to the annual Department for Transport (DfT) surveys. What we are attempting to do is address the perception of Belper folk that traffic is getting worse in the town whilst the DfT surveys show declining traffic levels. There is real concern in the town about the number of HGV's travelling through Belper roads and this will get special attention.

If we find, as I already suspect, that our data is showing similar results to the DfT then we will have to think hard about what we do next; should we persevere with our planned surveys at the Triangle and then the roundabout adjacent to Morrisons or tackle some other locations?

In the meantime a big thank you to all who volunteered. This was not an easy task as we were a relatively small band; I suspect much smaller than the official survey teams deployed by the DfT. If we had more people we could record more specific data. As it was we managed to log all forms of wheeled transport including caravans, tractors and diggers but accurately logging how many vehicles turned left/right into King Street or turned onto the Market Place to access the Coppice car park was a step too far. That said, one person volunteered to undertake a survey of relevant adjacent car parks and this will add greatly to the final report.

So, watch this space and do please contact John Porter on 07500832771 or contact Plan for Belper team if you would like to volunteer for our next survey. It was planned for next Thursday 13th October but with three key members of the team declaring themselves unavailable that date is already looking difficult. There were seven of us rotating through the 12 hours yesterday but I fear that a team of four would struggle. Ideally we need a team of a dozen if we are to undertake more complex locations but, as I said, a decision will be made about the relevance and nature of any further surveys.

Traffic Survey in Belper - looking for volunteers

The first NP4B traffic survey will commence on on the morning of Thursday 6th October at 7 am. The reason for the survey is that despite 15 years of annual Department for Transport monitoring indicating a gradual decline in the number of vehicles moving through the town there is a general perception that traffic is increasing. A series of dawn to dusk traffic counts is therefore planned, the one on Thursday being the first. Further surveys are in the pipeline during October monitoring traffic flowing through the Triangle near the Mill complex (again on a weekday) and all car park usage (both on a weekday and again on a Saturday).

Graph generated from DfT data by Plan for Belper

We have chosen a location by the Market Place which is convenient for traffic flows on Chesterfield Road, High Street, Spencer Road, Nottingham Road and Cheapside. We will also be able to monitor vehicle usage of The Coppice car park. 

We have so far managed to assemble a volunteer group of 4 individuals but hopefully this small team can be expanded ................ so, if you are interested in becoming involved in this hopefully rewarding task then please contact John Porter - Mobile: 07500832771. You will not be asked to stand by a windswept roadside for 12 hours as we are aiming for a rosta of 2 hour slots so when making contact please state when you are available. The plan is to monitor traffic in both directions so at any one time we need 2 volunteers to be in attendance. I think that we have the morning covered so anyone who has some spare time between 12 midday and 7 in the evening on Thursday 6th will be given a warm welcome.

Watch this space for following survey dates which will be decided upon to fit in with the availability of volunteers.

A full briefing will be given before you start (including personal safety).

AGM -September Press Release

SEPTEMBER PRESS RELEASE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR BELPER NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

22^ND SEPTEMBER, 7 PM AT TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES, ST JOHN’S CHAPEL, BELPER.

A warm invitation is extended to all interested members of the public to attend the AGM of the Belper Neighbourhood plan.

The Steering group will be presenting an outline of their work in the first 12 months of consultations and assessments. They will be able to give some indication of the feedback and findings so far and explain the further work planned. It will also be the opportunity to confirm membership of the Steering group and encourage further public involvement.

If you have more ideas about what should be in the Neighbourhood plan, want to be involved or hear about progress so far, please join us at St John’s Chapel, 7 pm on Thursday 22^nd September.

St John's Chapel - Belper

NP4B JULY PRESS RELEASE

      

JULY PRESS RELEASE

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR BELPER

In July we hold  our final  second  round meetings to collect more feedback and also report what we have heard so far from the people of Belper.

Our first of event, held on 12^th July regarding the Business and Local Economy section of the consultation will be different ............. a business drop-in.

The aim is to give an opportunity for business large and small to drop in for a discussion about the neighbourhood plan, what it means to them and how they can contribute to its content and future impact on their work places.

We look forward to meeting business representatives at:

No.28, Community Hall, 28, The Market Place , Belper 

from 11 am until 6.30pm On  Tuesday 12^th July.

This is followed by the second feedback meeting for:

  LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT

  Wednesday 20^TH July ,7.30pm at Room 16, Strutts Community Centre,

  [opposite the hospital] Derby Road.

All welcome.Please come along and hear the feedback from the business consultation and how the other views we have had so far are developing about our town’s future economic development.

The second of our feedback meetings is on:  

ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Wednesday 27^TH July , 7.30 pm at Milford Social Club, 5,Chevin Road. Milford.

 [opposite the school]

Again all welcome . There has been a lot of interesting feedback so far about how we can create a sustainable and forward looking town which meets the needs of all our residents. Come and give us your thoughts and hear from others.

In the Autumn we will be collating all of your views and collected data, preparing a first draft report of the plan for final comment and consultation.

NP4B June 2016 Press Release

Neighbourhood Plan for Belper Press Release June 2016

                                                                                  There was lots of interest in the Neighbourhood Plan from the public attending the very successful “Belper Goes Green “ festival this weekend .We had a stall for the two days where members of the Steering group chatted to anyone who stopped to look at our publicity and the Town Model on display.

We had questionnaires completed and many views and thoughts gathered. It was good to see so many people so interested in our town and some volunteering to help with the project.As one person said when signing up to go on the newsletter mailing list “ I live here, Why wouldn’t I be interested in the neighbourhood plan ? ”

We are still in the middle of our second round of public consultations giving feedback on what we have learned so far and getting the information into subject areas that we can use in the final document.

During the rest of June we will be running two workshops :

Wednesday 15^th June at 7.30pm at St John’s Chapel , The Butts.  Topic:

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND HOUSING

This is a significant area of interest and there is naturally lots of interest in new housing developments proposed in the town and where they might be sited. There is strong feedback that we need more social and affordable housing in the town.We are also getting a lot of feedback about how upset people are about the iconic East Mill becoming a deteriorating and embarrassing eyesore.

Wednesday 29^th June at 7.30pm at Strutt’s Community Centre , Derby Road.Topic:

CULTURE AND HERITAGE

The feedback we are getting is that local people value what we have of Belepr’s unique background and want to ensure that we enhance and use it.We are getting views on how to integrate this more into the town life eg by encouraging more tourist information, and public toilets and of course views on parking sites.

So please come along and help include your views on how our town should be developed and encouraged over the next decades. You can find out more by contacting us on:

email :info@planforbelper

Blog: http://np4b.blogspot.co.uk/

Website: www.planforbelper.org.uk

tweet ;@NP$B

or post to NPLan4B, St John’s Chapel , the Butts, Belper DE56 1 HX

Business Drop-in ........... a chance to input ideas for employment and commerce

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR THE BELPER AREA  -

INVITATION TO THE DROP-IN FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

All businesses in the Belper neighbourhood area – from sole traders, the self-employed and those working from home, through small and medium-sized firms to the big companies – and whatever the field of work - are cordially invited to the business drop-in at 

No.28 Community Hall, 

28 Market Place, Belper 

from 11am to 6.30pm on 12^th July

(please note that this replaces the original arrangement of 22^nd June at St. John’s Chapel). 

It is vital that we have your input so we can accurately assess the current and future needs of local firms and focus on what improvements can be made to assist them.  Also, to understand and protect if necessary what already works well for commercial enterprises in the area.

The drop-in will be an opportunity for businesses of all types and sizes to learn more about the neighbourhood plan, talk to us, give your views, see how to access business assistance in the locality, and take the business questionnaire.  It can be completed and handed in at the drop-in or taken away and returned to us by the deadline.  Questionnaires will also be available other than at the business drop-in. 

In a relatively short space of time the local economy and employment patterns have changed beyond recognition, and are still evolving.  If we are to obtain accurate information about the situation now and in the foreseeable future, some of the questions will necessarily be sensitive.  Only the Chairman, the facilitator and those involved in the analysis will have access to the completed questionnaires, but they can be rendered anonymous if preferred.   The same number would be allocated to the front and first pages of the questionnaire and, in those cases, the facilitator would take the front page with the company’s name and contact details and keep it separate and confidential.

If your business is located within the civil parish of Belper (covering Bargate, Belper, Belper Lane End, Blackbrook, Broadholme, Far Laund, Makeney, Milford, Mount Pleasant, Openwoodgate, Whitemoor, and outlying areas) then it is important to you and your enterprise that we obtain accurate information.  We urge you to complete the questionnaire, which will be available at the end of June. 

Report from Belper Goes Green

The Plan for Belper team are greatly encouraged following a very successful weekend at Belper Goes Green. We were able to talk with many people, explaining to those new to NP4B what it is we are doing and also to give an update on progress to those who have already contributed their ideas or attended one or more of our meetings.

The NP4B Sunday team at Belper Goes Green 2016

The team has also been re-invigorated with some new recruits who will be needed to assimilate the many ideas and comments that we gained over the weekend. Now it's back to the grindstone.

We will be finalising our upcoming meeting dates and venues .......... hopefully by the end of this week. We will also be publishing our newsletter (distributed by email to those who have signed up) and posting here more of our interim reports on our topics.

Finally ........... a big thank you to all who took the time to talk with us over the weekend. The interest shown in the project is most heartening.

Oh ........... nearly forgot ........... thank you to the Transition Belper folk for their hard work putting on this wonderful event. Belper Goes Green has grown into a not to be missed festival and we at NP4B are very grateful for being allowed to attend.

Culture & Heritage -- meeting June 29th at 7:30 pm

There will be a public consultation on June 29th at 7:30 pm

Room 14, Strutts Community Centre, Belper

The topic is:

Culture & Heritage

Built Environment & Housing - meeting June 15th

There is a public consultation meeting - June 15th at 7:30 pm 

St.John's Chapel, The Butts, Belper.

The topic is:

Built Environment & Housing

Community & Leisure -- feedback leaflet May 2016

COMMUNITY AND LEISURE.                  

2ND ROUND PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

19:30, WEDNESDAY 18TH MAY 2016

MILFORD SOCIAL CLUB,

5 CHEVIN ROAD, (OPPOSITE THE SCHOOL)

MILFORD,

DE56 0QH

FACILITATOR: JOHN DEVINE

Reporting feedback

Introduction

Neighbourhood Plan 4 Belper team has taken feedback from our first consultations which took place around Belper Parish earlier this year. While the number of feedback forms returned was disappointingly small, those forms we did get were very interesting and some very good points were raised.

This information we have been able to use to produce an outline as to which direction our Plan should take within each of the following categories.

Plan for Belper – Consultation 1 – Community and Leisure Jan 2016

Key points –

1.      Belper is inspirational, open access countryside

2.      There are many varying communities of interest, demonstrating a lively community spirit and social life, but perhaps there needs to be more communication about what’s going on, which could take the form of more co-ordinated parish ‘notice boards’ (real and virtual)

3.      Is the parish sufficiently served by the physical community hub buildings it needs?  Should there be an audit of those existing, and does there need to be another central, social ‘drop-in’ place?  There should be a central directory of places

4.      The town really comes alive in several key weeks – the DVMWHS weeks, Arts Festival, Food Festival

5.      Are people falling through the ‘gaps’ in community and social life?  How can that be best addressed?

6.      Is adult education too qualifications oriented now?

7.       There should be improvements to the physical leisure offer – improvements to the relationship between stakeholders in Belper Leisure Centre

8.      There are concerns about limitations on places at Pottery School

9.      There could be more formal FE College links to the town

10.    Provision of facilities for teenagers is not good.  Perhaps emphasise more intergenerational spaces?

11.  Should there be drop-in arrangements at health centres? (there is casualty coverage by Ripley GPs in their area, for example)

12.  The location of Babington Hospital and access is good, and will be a loss

13.   Access to Belper Meadows and the Nailers needs to be improved.

COMMUNITY

Community rooms are something that Belper is fortunate to have a good supply of.

The old schools, with their various sizes of rooms, lend themselves to community use: the Strutts Centre on Derby Road; the Adult Education Centre, on Holbrook Road (is it available to the general public?); the Fleet Arts Centre, on The Fleet; No28, on the Market Square; the community centre off Bridge Street, near the library; the Social Club at Milford.  The many sports clubs in the town offer room hire for parties and events.  The leisure centre has rooms available for hire to the general public.  There are also a good number of public houses within the Belper area with rooms and facilities available for public hire.  However, there is scope for additional public space:-

There is no community centre on the Parks Estate.

There was a lot of support for a community hub building in the centre of Belper where events and businesses could be advertised, with a café and social drop-in centre; perhaps even a meeting place for the town council with space for the public to observe.

The old Thornton’s building on Derwent Street would lend itself, in part, to

an easy conversion to community leisure activities. It already has a stage and

could be the basis of a community centre on the ground floor of value to all age groups.

The Tea Rooms at the River Gardens, when eventually built and with sufficient thought, could also become a community space.

Community engagement – volunteer allotments; veg. boxes.  At the moment we have a handful of people who seem to do the bulk of the organising.  How can we safeguard and build on their skills and enthusiasm for the future ?  What space is available for community use ? Who wants what and where ? There is much information required from the community.

Access to public buildings for both the elderly/infirm and the disabled of the parish.  Work has already been done in this regard by Accessible Belper, but there is more to do.

 

Should we be setting up some facility/scheme for the acquisition of local pubs as Community Assets should they fail as public houses ? Such premises would be ideally placed for alternative, community uses.

LEISURE

Leisure facilities.

Some have said that they would like a modern swimming pool with flumes, waves, etc. as well as the usual swimming pools.  Does this have community support?  Would keep-fit and sports facilities also need to be included?  Would it be better to have one large development or separate smaller developments?  Issues such as space/parking/congestion/access would need to be taken into consideration. 

Alternatively, should we be looking at extending/redeveloping the existing Leisure Centre ?  Issues such as school priority use/funding and access to the east side of Belper would need to be taken into consideration.

Or should we consider a Leisure Centre/Leisure Facility in the south of the parish ?  There would still be the same issues of space/parking/congestion/access as for a development in Belper Town.

What Community and/or Leisure Facility is required at Parks Estate area of Belper Parish ?

The Blue Box Scheme provides Multi Sports and Educational Workshops to the youth of Belper Parks.  Their management committee is looking at alternative/increase of use and looking at volunteer support in order to do this.  The community need to get involved.

The creation of Multi User Games Courts is suggested for the Parks Community. They provide safe, well lit facility for casual use sports by the youth of Parks.  What about Milford ?

Sommerlea Leisure Centre already has one as have many others. These are usually owned by AVBC.  Sporting Futures run sessions there.

Entertainment venues;

We have numerous music venues around the town (mostly pub based): the Queens Head, the Old Kings Head, the George & Dragon, the Lion Hotel, and many more – some akin to community centres.   Should we use the Neighbourhood Plan to safeguard our pubs from closure  by protecting them as ‘Community Assets’ ?  This would be a big undertaking and would need ongoing community involvement, but could be a boon to the more rural parts of the Belper neighbourhood area.

Town Notice Boards.

A suggestion has been made about having electronic notice boards throughout the parish, which could be updated from the town council offices.  There is also the possibility to have screens showing the same information in pubs, cafes and shops where there is a willingness to host them.  There would be issues such as cost/installation/security/maintenance.

Costs could be offset by selling advertising space on the system to local businesses and national organisations (think newspaper ads).  Are you in favour of these ideas or not?

Blue corridors – picnic areas or seating ?

Are picnic areas as valued as they once were ? Would they be used by families or prove a lure for antisocial behaviour ?  Would such areas be better placed away from the 'Blue Corridor' and closer to the edge of town i.e. the bottom end of Derwent Street and elsewhere along the bottom of the slope at the edge of the Meadows ?  Perhaps better provision of seating along the 'Blue Corridor' might prove more popular whilst still providing many of the benefits of picnic areas ?  We need to know which option the community favours.

EDUCATION

Concern has been expressed that schools provision within the neighbourhood plan area is at capacity.  Also, that there is insufficient tertiary education provision.  The views of professionals are being sought but we welcome any information, suggestions or ideas that anyone has.

YOUTH/ELDERLY/DISABLED

There is a good offer of structured sports within the area for young people, but

there is very little that caters for ad hoc and flexible needs.   It has been suggested that there needs to be more provision for areas to kick a football about or just to congregate.   

We have been told there is a need for further youth facilities at the Whitmore end of Belper and at Milford.

Do you agree?  Please let us know so we can get a consensus.

Should we have shared leisure/meeting facilities for young and old ?  The old Thorntons site could possibly lend itself to redevelopment of this nature.  A good sized space with easy access and parking in which to hold music, performing arts and other, larger scale, events. The needs of the younger and older generations, when it comes to entertainment, are remarkably similar when it comes to venues.

For the elderly, inform and those with disabilities: can we further improve Belper town centre by focussing on ease of access to all premises? What about the cost ?  A number of shops already make an effort to support those customers with additional needs, but many don’t shout about it. For instance, did you know that

we have retail staff in the town that can sign and say hello to those with hearing

impairments. It will be useful to tie in such accessibility considerations to future planning and

development in and around Belper.

HEALTH

The NHS South Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group produced a document last year entitled:

Joined Up Care in Belper

Healthcare Service Review for the town and surrounding areas

Interim Report –October 2015.

This is a 52 page document with gives many facts, figures and proposals.  The link to access this document is: http://www.southernderbyshireccg.nhs.uk/have-your-say/belper-health-services/

This document was followed by:

Joined Up Care in Belper

Pre-engagement Report.

This is an 8 page report which sets out the findings of the survey conducted at this time.

In total 84 questionnaires were completed.  It is expected that there will be further consultations taking place in the summer and that will be an opportunity for more Belper people to take part and make their views known.  The link to access this document also is:

http://www.southernderbyshireccg.nhs.uk/have-your-say/belper-health-services/

SPORTS

There is comparatively little opportunity for casual or spontaneous sports other

than fishing or ball games on green open spaces.  Multi User Games Courts would certainly help to redress this imbalance.   Perhaps aiming for at least 4 – one by the skate park, one on Parks Estate and one at the Whitemoor Estate  and one at Milford ?

COMMUNITY & LEISURE FEEDBACK

Post to: NP4B, St. John’s Chapel, The Butts, Belper DE56.1HX.   or e-mail to: info@planforbelper.org.uk

COMMUNITY:

LEISURE:

EDUCATION:

YOUTH/ELDERLY/DISABLED:

HEALTH:

SPORTS:

Parks and Public Open Spaces feedback report - May 2016

The Neighbourhood Plan Team has been busy collecting and collating feedback from residents whose houses back on to the following parks and green open spaces: Belper Parks, Bullsmoor, Manor Rec., Walker Bottom Rec. (at the end of Stanton Avenue) and Three Cornered Rec. We intend to survey residents whose houses back on to other parks in Belper in the next few months starting with the biggest green areas and working down.

Feedback has been collected via a survey form which is particular to a single place or a group of parks where they are in close proximity to each other. The views expressed come only from the residents surveyed not the facilitator. Many of the views were expressed by a considerable number of people.

Feedback about Belper River Gardens, Market Place, Meadow’s edge, and the Memorial Gardens comes from comments in surveys of other parks.

Wyver Lane Nature Reserve: Size 70 hectares situated at the far end of Wyver Lane

We do not intend to survey the residents living in the only house that is close to Wyver Lane Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve is privately owned, is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on a very long term lease and has no public access.

Belper Parks Local Nature Reserve: Size 20 Hectares surrounded by housing in the middle of Town, adjacent to Coppice Car Park.

Belper Parks is approximately 50% native English bluebell woodland and 50% grassland with 3 hectares of wildflower meadow. The meadow is fenced round so that cattle can graze the meadow in the autumn, which is the ideal way to manage a wildflower meadow. The site has had a management plan since 2003 this was updated annually from 2007, when the Landscape Services Department was first formed, until 2012. There are many things in the management plan that remain undone.

Comments from residents :- These vary widely.

1)      Many residents appreciate and look forward to the arrival of the Highland Cattle each year. But have strong comments on the way Landscape Services mismanage the cattle grazing regime for the wildflower meadow. One example is as follows:-

“What sort of idiot had the meadow mown before the cattle went in. The cattle had no grass to eat and the meadow would not benefit the land with no grass”

2)      This is contrary to AVBC’s Press Release in 2009 issued by Cllr. Jack Brown then Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener, Safer in which he said:
 “When the idea was first suggested I was instantly excited. Aside from the obvious environmental and educational benefits of replacing mowers with cows, the site of Highland Cattle, grazing in the park, would be a popular draw for walkers and tourists. Ideally, we want to find a willing local farmer who can graze their cattle and use the meat to sell locally and really subscribe to the organic and ethical values we’re aiming to instil with the project.”

3)      Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and other professional environmental groups also say cattle grazing in the autumn is the best way to manage a wildflower meadow. Mowing and removing the arisings kills or removes much of the very small wildlife you need to support the larger animals further up the food chain.

4)      Some people think the site is well managed, clean, tidy, safe and peaceful

5)      Others complain of dog fouling and litter.

6)      Non native species of plant and trees need to be removed

7)      Access for disabled people needs improving

8)      It is good to be able to walk away from roads, traffic and concrete, better for body and mind

9)      Generally good but need to be more inclusive

10)   Could do with community events and activities for families

11)   Outdoor awareness sessions

12)   Too much clearance of undergrowth. Less clearance of fallen trees as those rotting down produce food at lower end of food chain encouraging biodiversity.

13)   Less clearance of brambles at Coppice car park as foxes which keep rats in check have gone

14)   Footpaths to be better maintained and the occasional sight of a dog warden

15)   Freedom to walk without trespassing

16)   Community bird hide would be good

17)   The Parks need to be managed better. It has become much more overgrown and therefore dark since we came here 5 years ago

18)   Not consulted adequately on changes

19)   If people want to get involved in the management of the Parks then they should be allowed to do so.

Manor Rec.

1)      A skate board area in Manor Rec.

2)      I think the skate board park at Morrisons is in the wrong place. It is too out of the way, which allows groups of older teenagers to dominate it and scare of younger children

3)      There are no swings or roundabouts for children over 8 years old.

Walker Bottom Rec.

1)      The ball court slopes so balls roll of the court and into the brook. Needs more fencing to stop footballs going in the brook.

2)      We overlook the rec. and enjoy watching all ages enjoying the recent facilities

3)      Path needed round playground when direct route around the play area is muddy.

4)      We enjoy living on the edge of it and visiting children use it.

5)      Not enough swings and difficult to access the slide

6)      Path and fencing not adequate. Council official very unhelpful and rude

7)      More swings

Bullsmoor privately owned and currently farmland

1)      No building on Bullsmoor, would prefer development of brown field sites.

2)      No building on Bullsmoor as no infrastructure

3)      Views plenty and different routes to take, being in the countryside. They are attractive unspoilt areas and safe.

4)      We are unfit 80+ year olds and wish we could enjoy the Parks. We moved to Belper in 2012 and bought a property overlooking the serene green areas. It would be ghastly if housing were to be built on Bullsmoor. The infrastructure is not there schools, surgeries and Nottingham Road – unthinkable that traffic would be increased along it into Belper. Belper is a gem. We need to preserve what makes Belper unique. Kind helpful townspeople are also a plus for the town.

5)      Massive concern regarding flooding issues connected to new development

6)      Bullsmoor is vital to the World Heritage status. Bullsmoor should have “village green status”.

7)      To truly protect the unique features of Belper, the industrial planning permission also needs to be removed from Bullsmoor as part of the Neighbourhood Plan

The responses of the two exceptions to the 98% who did not want building on Bullsmoor

8)      Yes, as many as possible to support local businesses.

9)      Only if it is affordable housing for first time buyers

Three Cornered Rec.

1)      I don’t like the fact that dogs are exercised in 3 Cornered Rec. don’t think they should be exercised where children play

2)      No waste bin at the top of the rec. This results in rubbish on the grass

3)      Tailored for the very young, which is appropriate for St Johns Primary School

4)      Good place to go with children to play football and basketball. Play area well managed

5)      Needs a new basketball hoop and board

6)      Would be good to have new equipment like Whitemoor and an assault course.

Belper Meadows edge

1)     The area of the Meadows at the end of Derwent Street should be left as it is, completely natural.

Belper River Gardens owned and maintained by AVBC

Many people visit the River Gardens from other parts of Belper.

1)     The playground is only suitable for very young children.

2)     The Gardens need a cafe, they would be well used by the public

3)     Would like to see the cafe re-open

4)     Stop upgrading to things that do not work

Memorial Gardens owned and maintained by Belper Town Council

1)     Residents appreciate the work of the Town Council’s staff in maintaining the Memorial Gardens and imaginative displays of flowers.

2)     Few people know of the community garden in the Memorial Garden

Belper Market Place shared ownership by Belper Town Council, Derbyshire County Council, and some of the adjacent landowners, which makes legally enforceable no parking signage impossible.

Belper UDC Act 1953 requires the Market Place and Coppice car parks to be available for fairs and markets.

1)     Don’t like the Market Place being used as a car park when Coppice car park is so close.

General Comments on Parks and Green Open Spaces

1)      Belper’s Parks and Green Open Spaces give a sense of well being and are the reason some people move to and like living in Belper. Once they’re gone there is no going back.

2)      Freedom

3)      Belper’s Parks and Green Open Spaces are great places to exercise kids and dogs

4)      Green open spaces are too valuable to loose for many reasons. (Wildlife, recreation etc.)

5)      Commitment to maintain the integrity, size and biodiversity of Belper’s parks and public open spaces are vital for the health of Belper and neighbouring areas.

6)      What is bad about Belper’s parks and green open spaces :- Litter, Bottles, Vandalism and mis-use by a mindless minority

7)      It would be good to see schools use the Parks to educate children about nature and the environment

8)      It would be good to see more use of green open spaces to grow free food such as fruit trees and fruit bushes for people and wildlife.

9)      50% of all new housing built in Belper in the last 15 years. Only one built in Alderwasley.

10)   Protect Belper from developers keep our green open spaces.

11)   Any new housing developments should contain small regularly placed green spaces within them

12)   We all need open spaces to be in touch with nature. It would be a poorer environment without them in Belper

13)   Belper is a lovely Market Town. Don’t spoil it with too much building.

14)   Belper cannot sustain further development (beyond occasional an house). It doesn’t have the infrastructure. The road network cannot be adapted to facilitate extra traffic.

15)   If houses need to be built, make sure the roads are wide enough for all the extra traffic.

16)   I think it is important we keep these spaces as they are, with no new buildings. Belper is overdeveloped as it is, the town is in danger of losing its character.

17)   Not enough facilities for the number of houses.

18)   Belper is expanding! The attraction to live here is the access to the open spaces and parks. I would move house and town if I lost it. Key reason for moving here. To feel free having lived in an already crowded Derby.

19)   Belper’s infrastructure is under pressure. New builds both commercial and domestic appear to have no thought to how traffic is managed, let alone sewerage/water management

20)   The green spaces compliment the history of the World Heritage Site and encourage tourism. They also make the environment pleasant to live in.

21)   Please do not allow any more houses to be built on our Green Belt land. Belper is far too beautiful one of the main reasons we moved here.

22)   Speeding big issue on Nottingham Road. Traffic calming or cameras are needed to prevent accidents.

23)   Belper has too much traffic going through it (Bridge Street and New Road). The infrastructure seems very stretched by an expanding population.

24)   Parks and Green Spaces need to be protected. This is a common comment in many replies.

25)   Not enough car parking or school places, doctors or dentists to cope with more housing.

26)   Belper is in danger of over development which will result in the town losing its character. There are many similar comments to this. People are concerned about squeezing a quart into a pint pot, and the consequent loss of World Heritage status.

Emerging policies

1)      The vast majority of residents see the value of being in a World Heritage Site as well as its constraints and want it to remain much as it is with development only where there is no reduction in the site’s Outstanding Universal Value.

2)      No building on Belper’s Green Belt

3)      The vast majority of residents do not want houses being built on the Town’s current parks and green open spaces.

4)      Residents want local people to be involved in the maintenance and development of Belper Parks, and a number of people including older children are prepared to be involved under the right conditions. A community group can obtain funding to develop the site for the benefit of its wildlife and human visitors and help implement the local Biodiversity Plan for the Derwent Valley.

5)      People want to see more use made of Belper Parks by the community for appropriate activities. This will help reduce abuse of Belper Parks.

6)      The Tea Rooms in the River Gardens need to be renovated and re-opened as tea rooms.