Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Friday, 7 October 2016
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.
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.
 |
| A graph showing private cars passing the Market Place survey point - from NP4B survey data |
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.
Monday, 3 October 2016
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).
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
AGM -September Press Release
SEPTEMBER PRESS RELEASE
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR BELPER NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
22ND 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 22nd September.
 |
| St John's Chapel - Belper |
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
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 12th 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 12th July.
This is followed by the second feedback meeting for:
LOCAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT
Wednesday 20TH 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 27TH July ,
7.30 pm at Milford Social Club, 5,Chevin Road.
[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.
Tuesday, 7 June 2016
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 15th 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
29th 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
Monday, 6 June 2016
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 12th July
(please note that this replaces the original
arrangement of 22nd 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.
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