Latest news
Proposal to demolish old Pye Bridge line railway bridge before April 2011
Neither Residents nor Councillors consulted
A sharp-eyed resident noticed a very small announcement in the Derby Evening Telegraph on 14th July. The DET reported that Derbyshire County Council propose to spend £150,000 on demolishing the 1875 bridge taking the line of the Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line across the A610.
Cllr Juliette Blake wants to know why nobody at DCC bothered to mention it to her, and why local residents have not been consulted. 'Why is this a priority when money is so tight?' she asks. Cllr Blake has written to Cllr Chris Jackson, DCC Cabinet Member for Highways.
See our Campaigns/A610 speed limit for further news and discussion.
22nd July - Latest News
Interim court order from today
AVBC have taken further legal advice and are now using the Building Act 1984 to pursue JG Ambergate LLP. AVBC had already served a second Notice on JG Ambergate, expiring today, to no effect. The interim court order under the Building Act 1984 makes JG Ambergate, the site owners, directly responsible for maintaining the integrity of the site fencing. Failing to do this will be a breach of the court order.
AVBC will now look at the whole dye works site and seek an order that gives the owner an option to repair or demolish the buildings on the site, and to clear up the rubbish that arises from the demolition work.
Meanwhile, the remaining buildings, especially the two stone cottages, are becoming more derelict and overgrown with saplings of ash and Buddleja.
Residents' anxiety over the state of the Stevenson's site
26th May
Darren Hurst is hoping very soon to hear what AVBC has decided to do about the safety of the Stevenson's site, including the heaps of rubble with asbestos containing materials. The recent prolonged spell of very dry weather has increased residents' concerns - and with winds coming predominantly from the North and NW recently, there are also concerns that dust may reach the Moorlands Road and Ridgeway areas. Freda has emailed Darren Hurst (AVBC) and Nigel Mills MP asking what they can do.
22nd April - Darren Hurst tells us that JG Ambergate LLP were baled out at the last minute. AVBC is therefore continuing to pursue JGA to make the site safe, to secure the perimeter fence so that local children will not be tempted onto the site, and to complete the demolition process.
9th April: AVBC's Scientific Officer, Darren Hurst, has served an Abatement Notice on JG Ambergate LLP to remove all quantities of asbestos containing materials from the Bullbridge site. You can read the entire letter from Darren Hurst here.
It would appear that JG Ambergate LLP are the actual owners of the old Stevenson's site rather than JG Land & Estates. It would also appear that JG Ambergate LLP will be Petitioned for Insolvency in the Chancery Division of the High Court, London on Wednesday 14th April.
17th March - Despite trying to make contact by phone, email and in writing, Daren Hurst has received no response from J G Land & Estates concerning residents' fears about the composition of the two heaps of rubble lying on the site.
4th March: Several residents are concerned about the dereliction of the old dye works site.
It is already more than one year since the demolition men moved in, leaving in early April 2009 with only half of the site demolished. One year on, and following an unusually cold and snowy winter,
two heaps of assorted rubble are no longer sheeted over. Residents are concerned about what these heaps contain and what will be blowing about with the return of warmer, dryer weather. Freda Raphael has spoken to Darren Hurst, Scientific Officer at AVBC who is urgently investigating this problem
Cottages and Malt House steadily decaying
BASA is also concerned about the steady deterioration of the old stone cottage and the old stone malt house, both close to the canal bridge on Bullbridge Hill. Freda has emailed JG Land and Estates, and phoned, expressing concern, but she has received no reply at all.
Our first Annual General Meeting
Thursday 13th May
Yes! it really is a year since BASA was born. We held our first AGM in Sawmills village hall earlier this evening, 13th May. There was a good turnout, the previous committee was re-elected, and there was time afterwards for people to talk about current issues. There were also more historic photos and maps to look at, and the tea urn was kept busy.
You can read the Agenda here.
You can read our latest Newsletter here.
See the Meetings page for more details.
Our Vision! for Bullbridge/Sawmills
BASA asks Parliamentary Candidates for their views
Thursday 29th April: With just one week to go before the 2010 General Election, BASA has been asking the candidates from the three main political parties how they would be able to support our Vision! if they are returned on May 6th.
You can read the email we sent here, with the vision here, and a 19th century impression here.
So far we have had positive support from Nigel Mills (Con) and Tom Snowdon (Lib Dem). We are still waiting to hear Judy Mallaber's views (Lab).
Saturday 17th April 2010: Launch of Civic Voice
Building Centre, Store Street, London
Our Chairperson, Freda Raphael, attended the launch of Civic Voice on Saturday. Civic Voice is the new charity rising from the ashes of the Civic Trust, which disappeared a year ago, just as BASA was roaring into being.
Delegates from civic societies all over England applauded Ian Harvey and Tony Burton for their energy and committment during the past year in keeping the civic flame alive via the Civic Society Initiative - and now, in the launch of the new charity, Civic Voice.
Griff Rhys Jones, the President of Civic Voice, addressed delegates, urging them to be active busy bodies in opposing the trend for centralised decisions overriding local opinion.
Later, the architect, Sir Terry Farrell, encouraged delegates to put forward new ideas into the public realm. Sir Terry, for instance, opposes current thinking that puts traffic management before pedestrians. He also believes that our present Planning system does not work.
At the end of a stimulating day, members of Camden Civic Society took delegates out into perfect sunshine for a guided walk around Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury.
Brian Blessed visits Sawmills
Mike Kelley and the Friends of Cromford Canal met Brian Blessed, President of the FCC, at Sawmills village hall on Monday 12th April.
Brian Blessed received a (big) cheque for the FCC from Derbyshire County Councillor Juliette Blake.
It's not every Monday afternoon we have such a larger-than-life personality in our midst. Brian accepted the big cheque from Juliette to be spent on improvements to the Sawmills length of the canal. He then entertained a hall full of local people for an hour with his hilarious anecdotes and his boundless enthusiasm. Before he left we took him up to see the newly cleared Narrowings on the Cromford canal nearby.
See the gallery of pictures taken by Gordon Stainforth, our webmaster.
Future Housing Growth in Amber Valley
Tuesday 2nd March at Ripley Leisure Centre, Derby Road, Ripley
AVBC Planning Officers want to hear your views on where you think future housing growth should go and how you want Amber Valley to change over the coming years. The way planning policy changes could well have a profound effect on how the Stevenson's site at Bullbridge is eventually redeveloped.
Gill Hurst and Freda Raphael went along to the drop-in session at Ripley Leisure Centre and spoke to Rob Thorley, the AVBC Officer heading the Local Development Framework public consultation. Profound changes in housing development appear to be happening. To be honest, though, we struggled to understand especially as we are unable to access the Issues and Options document from the AVBC website.
We understood from Rob Thorley, however, that the Building for Life standards have already been adopted by AVBC. This is very good news indeed. Learn more at: www.buildingforlife.org/
You should be able to read more about future housing needs in Amber Valley on the AVBC website at: http://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/microsites/press/2010/01/Your+Views+on+Housing+Growth.htm
Village Hall Meeting - Thursday 25th February
An informal get-together with displays of current campaigns and local history
We had a good turnout, despite the wet, dark evening. Gill Hirst had letters we've written or received concerning our A610 speeding campaign. June Ward updated people about flooding issues and brought a display of photographs, including photos of the old brickyard chimney being demolished.
Hugh Potter and Friends of the Cromford Canal showed historic photos and maps, as well as information about the society.
Rod Jewell brought a wonderful collection of old postcards, photos and old Derbyshire trade directories.
Freda Raphael showed her visual tour of the area including photos both past and present. She also had information about AVBC's current public consultation over future housing in the borough.
Sawmills Mission Church is in urgent need of repair, five years after celebrating its centenary. Sue Rogers recounted the problems and appealed for help. If anyone can help with the Mission's fund raising appeal, please contact Sue on 01773-856681 or email susan.rodgers@tiscali.co.uk
Geoff Sims brought his lap-top and scanner so that people who had brought old photographs could have them copied for the embryonic BASA archive.
Ian Bell enrolled three new BASA members.
Clive's tea urn was kept busy all evening. There was so much gossip and swapping of news that tea was in much demand.
Thank you everyone who attended, or helped in any way.
Clearing the Narrows, Sawmills
Bringing Sawmills history back to life
Over the winter months David Hirst has been organising residents and their friends to help clear trees and rubbish from the Narrows stretch of the Cromford canal at Sawmills. This is not a lock, as would appear, but the place where boats were 'weighed' to calculate the tarrifs due. The attractive stone cottage here was demolished, sadly, some years ago. But you can still see its stone gate posts and unusual stone fence posts beside the tow path.
Tree and shrub clearance will end early in March, when bird-nesting season begins.
Thank you to everyone who has lent a hand!
Latest on BASA's A610 Speeding Campaign
BASA liaises with the Police and Cllr. Juliette Blake
BASA representatives, Dave Evans and David and Gillian Hirst have been meeting with the police and Juliette Blake (who organised the meetings) to discuss how to improve safety along the A610. The police representatives at the meetings were - Inspector Richard Smith, Sergeant Richard Booth and Special Constable Sarah Spencer.
The first meeting was on 17th December 2009. The agenda, pre-meeting notes by Dave Evans and notes taken at the meeting are to be found at Campaigns page
The second meeting was held on 25th January 2010. Notes from this meeting are also loaded on the Campaigns page.
We feel that these meetings have been productive, providing both BASA and the police with an opportunity for honest dialogue. We remain in contact, mostly be email and anticipate further meetings.
Gill
Muddy boots day with Barry Joyce and Gill Stroud
Monday 4th January 2010
Monday was cold and icy, but that did not prevent Barry Joyce MBE, Conservation and Design Manager for Derbyshire County Council, and Gill Stroud, the Historic Environment Record Officer of Derbyshire County Council, from driving over to Bullbridge and Sawmills. After warming up with hot coffee at the Nelson, BASA members Gill Hirst, David Hirst, Freda Raphael and Hugh Potter took Barry and Gill on a walk to see some of the sites now listed in our Bullbridge and Sawmills Gazetteer.
Work party on the Sawmills section of the Cromford canal
December 5th and 6th
Several BASA members did their bit during the weekend to help FCC members clear trees, saplings and undergrowth from the canal bed. They were joined by volunteers from the Waterways Recovery Group who had travelled from all over England, giving up a whole weekend of their own time. Several young people from Sawmills also came along to help, and their enthusiasm was very welcome indeed. On the Sunday, several volunteers spent time - and much effort - in clearing out the Narrowings, where canal boats used to be measured. Much of the masonry is still in place here. With a bit more clearing out this stretch of the old canal will begin to look 'canal-ish' once more.
Thank you to everyone who came along to help during the weekend.
Sawmills Village Hall Christmas Fayre
Saturday 28th November
There was a good turnout on Saturday afternoon for the annual Christmas Fayre in Sawmills Village Hall. Santa was looking very stylish in a fluffy red suit, his white beard neatly trimmed and combed. The raffle, guess-the-cake-weight, and tombola stalls were doing brisk trade. Your roving reporter was persuaded to try her luck at each one - and came away with a calendar (perfect for keeping track of BASA events during 2010:) Tea and mince pies seemed to be disappearing rapidly amidst a bustle of steam and activity. Everyone was obviously enjoying the annual event which raises welcome funds for our village hall. A big 'Thank you' to all the helpers. Keep an eye on this space for more photos shortly.
Stop Press! The Fayre raised an amazing £407.64 this year.
Notes on the meeting held at Sawmills Village Hall, Weds Nov 11.
Here are some notes from the last BASA Meeting, which was specifically about Stevensons. I hope I have captured the feeling of the meeting, as I know how important the issue is to you.
Gill
Oct 29: Residents concerns and comments re. the development of the old Stevenson's site
See our Stevenson's campaign page
Oct 28: Stevensons' latest preliminary plan must be 'viable'
Hi All
It looks like we will be in consultation with JG Land again soon.
We will need to have an idea of the views of BASA members, so that the BASA Stevenson's interest group know that they are expressing the views of the Society.
As far as I can see JG Land are only likely to get help from the banks if they can put forward plans that are 'viable', which appears to mean Housing and not community facilities such as shops and community centres.
Gill
Oct 18: The 'Level Pond Plod'
A SPONSORED WALK
The 'Pond Plod' on Sunday Oct 18th along the Cromford Canal from Cromford Mill to Pinxton Wharf, organised by the Friends of the Cromford Canal, was a huge success with 140 taking part - 60 leaving Cromford Mill at 10 am, a further 60 joining at Bullbridge at 12.30, and a final 20 joining at Codnor Park Reservoir at 2.30pm.
Freda Raphael, BASA Chairperson, and Gordon Stainforth, BASA webmaster, walked the whole 14.5 mile route. David Hirst walked the 8 miles from Bullbridge to Pinxton with Mushy Malc, and Gill Hirst walked the 6 miles to Codnor Park with some special friends. In addition, Gill Hirst, Ian Bell and Geoff Sims were Stewards at Bullbridge.
Further pictures in our Events photo gallery.
Friends of the Cromford Canal
www.cromfordcanal.org.uk
Oct 15-16: BASA Chairperson at the Civic Society Initiative Convention in Blackpool
Freda Raphael, BASA Civic Society Chairperson, represented BASA at the CSI Convention at the St Johns Conference Centre, Blackpool. This is her report.
Blackpool Civic Trust offered to host a convention where delegates from English Civic Societies could discuss what they want from a renewed civic societies movement, and how these dreams can be fulfilled. Blackpool is also, of course, the perfect venue for delegates to swap ideas whilst socialising. Incidentally, Blackpool Civic Trust's Chairman, Elaine Smith, was born and brought up on Spanker Lane, Nether Heage, so she was delighted to hear about BASA. Elaine told me that her father had worked at Stevenson's before World War II.
At the Convention we heard a letter of encouragement from Prince Charles and watched a video from Griff Rhys Jones, the Civic Societies President, urging civic societies to work together. In so doing, Griff said, we will have strength through a National voice. Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, spoke to us enthusiastically, encouraging us to get young people involved with local issues.
Elaine Smith told us that BCT works closely with Blackpool Council and with both local MPs. Carl Carrington, Blackpool Council's Conservation, Buildings and Townscape Heritage Initiative Officer, also spoke. Later, he took us on a whirlwind tour of Blackpool pointing out the town's buildings, attractions, and problems. The weather was glorious with sparkling blue skies and a clean, fresh breeze adding extra glitter to Blackpool's glitz. We ended with a fascinating tour of the Winter Gardens. (See the Events Gallery of the Photo Archive)
But back to business. Tony Burton, on loan to the CSI from the National Trust for one year, took us at lightning speed through the feedback that he and Ian Harvey have had this summer from civic societies throughout England. We discussed the issues raised and voted on them using hand-held electronic devices, which kept everyone awake and caused much amusement. But we then had instant voting results and statistical analyses, saving a huge amount of time and avoiding fuss.
The overall feeling of the Convention was that Civic Societies play a valuable role in local communities and that we need an umbrella body to support and co-ordinate our efforts especially in the areas of Planning and campaigning. You can download a copy of Own the Future, the very readable report from the Convention, from the CSI website (click on the CSI logo on the left and follow the links)
Further pictures in the Events gallery.
Oct 12: Cromford Canal
The Friends of the Cromford Canal (FCC) have a new volunteer - William. He's going to haul Duchess between Cromford Wharf and High Peak Junction during the World Heritage Site Discovery Days on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November. He's used to pulling a plough but not a canal boat. So today we had a practice run.
First we had to get Duchess to Cromford Wharf from her mooring at High Peak Junction. Half a dozen of us, including Freda Raphael, our Chairperson, hauled the boat. The Cromford Canal is seriously silting up so the haul was really hard work, especially when Duchess twice stuck firmly into the mud.
A good hour later and we reached Cromford Wharf exhausted but pleased to see William there already, chewing on some hay whilst his owner kitted him out with halter and chains.
When William saw Duchess there was no stopping him. He couldn't wait to get pulling. But he's used to a heavy plough so the journey back to High Peak Junction went at break neck speed with Mike Kelly hanging onto Duchess's tiller. William hardly noticed the mud banks that had given the human volunteers so much hard labour.
