Have your say for the future of the Borough

Chesterfield Borough Council is inviting local residents to have their say on how the Borough will look in 2026.  The Council has to draw up new plans, known as a Local Development Framework, for how the local area will develop and deal with things like household and population growth, climate change and regeneration.

The first step in this work is an ‘Options' document, published on 25^th June, that outlines the main environmental, social and economic issues affecting the Borough over the next 20 years, and gives options for how to deal with them. In particular, it suggests four different ways of providing for the development of the new houses and jobs that will be needed up to 2026.

Some of the challenges facing the Borough include finding sites for new and affordable housing, minimising the risk of flooding, protecting the Green Belt and other green areas, minimising CO2 emissions and helping the Borough adapt to the effects of climate change.  These and other issues are covered in the ‘Options' document for the public to comment on, which will help to shape the new core planning strategy for the Borough. 

Staveley Works Area Action Plan

Another related piece of work is the regeneration of the Staveley Works Corridor over the next 20 years. The Staveley Works site is around 150 hectares, much of which is empty and derelict following the decline of heavy industry. There is now an opportunity to look at and comment on the options for the future redevelopment of the site.

Work so far has concentrated on gathering background information about the area covering issues such as flood risk, transport, contamination and ecology. Plans have been drawn up showing four options for how the corridor could be redeveloped. The Council is now inviting local residents and businesses to comment on the options.

Councillor David Stone, the Lead Member for Planning at the Council, said: "This is a very important public consultation. It is all about the future of the Borough and how we want it to look in 20 years time. We have some really exciting plans for regeneration coming forward, but we also need to tackle the big issues of climate change, flood risk, housing growth and traffic. We want to speak to as many people as possible and I would urge residents and businesses alike to please give us their views."     

The public consultation on the Core Strategy ‘Options' document runs from 25th June 2009 for six weeks until 6^th August 2009. Consultation on the options for the Staveley Works Area Action Plan will happen at the same time. Both will be available through the council's website (www.chesterfield.gov.uk), at the Town Hall and at local libraries.

A display and touch screen opinion meter to record views will be available at Staveley Healthy Living Centre between 29^th - 5^th July, and the Town Hall reception between 6^th July - 10^th July. Questionnaires will also be available on the Council's website and at the Town Hall and libraries.

Staff from the Council's Planning Service will be holding a ‘drop in' event at Unit 2 in the Pavements shopping centre (between WHSmith and Chesterfield Library), between 16-18 July where you can chat to planning officers and look at the different options.

Staff will also be at a stall on the Medieval Market on Tuesday 28^th July, along with information about the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

You can also hear about the plans at your local Community Forum meetings:

Holmebrook and Rother - Tuesday 7 July, 6.45 pm Town Hall

Dunston, Moor and St Helens - Tuesday 7 July, 7 pm Whittington Moor Methodist Church

Barrow Hill and Whittington - Wednesday 8 July, 7 pm Old Whittington Miners Welfare

Brimington and Tapton - Wednesday 8 July, 7 pm Brimington Junior School

Newbold and Brockwell - Tuesday 14 July, 7 pm Town Hall

Hasland and St Leonards - Wednesday 15 July, 7 pm Town Hall

Staveley - Thursday 16 July, 7 pm Venue to be confirmed

Walton and West - Tuesday 21 July, 4 pm Brookfield School

Documents and information on how to make your views known are also available from www.chesterfield.gov.uk on the Planning pages (look for links to the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Issues and Options), or by contacting any member of the Forward Planning Team at:

Planning Services, Chesterfield Borough Council, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield S40 1LPTel:               (01246) 345954       , 345792, 345790
Email: forwardplanning@chesterfield.gov.uk

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