Author: Stephen Barr

Feb 2025 Notice of Vacancy Parish Councillor Ian Ord has indicated that he will be resigning from the Parish Council with effect from the end of March.  This will create a vacancy on the Parish Council, which will coopt an additional member to fill the vacancy.  Anyone interested in applying to fill this position should contact the Clerk ahead of the next Parish Council meeting on 10 March to express their interest. The Parish Council is grateful to Ian Ord for his many contributions to our community, including through his membership of the Parish Council and through his tireless endeavours as the coordinator of HEARD (the Hope Environmental and Rail Delegation).

The Peak District National Park have announced that their CEO Phil Mulligan will be doing a number of informal roadshows in 2025.  The first one scheduled will be at Bamford Village Institute on Thursday 13th February, 2pm to 4pm.  Later roadshows are planned for locations including Grindleford and Tideswell.

Derbyshire County Council have introduced a registration scheme for users of any DCC recycling centre.  The rationale for registration and guidelines on how it will apply are given at the DCC website at https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news-events/news-updates/news/residents-required-to-register-to-use-household-waste-recycling-centres.aspx

Hope with Aston Parish Council has a new Clerk. Alison Wheeler took over from Sheree Smallwood in January 2025. She also works as Assistant Clerk for Hathersage Parish, and has long experience running the Glenbrook Outdoor Centre, as well as ongoing voluntary work with Girlguiding. Councillors are very pleased to welcome Alison to the role. She can be contacted at clerk@hopewithastonparishcouncil.co.uk. The parish council would also like to express our appreciation to Sheree Smallwood who was Clerk to the Council for the last two years and who has been an excellent support to the community.

The Peak Park is currently seeking feedback as part of preparation of a new plan for the Peak District.  A full explanation of the process and questions on which the Peak Park is seeking responses can be found on the Peak Park website.   The Parish Council is in the process of drafting our responses to these questions.   An initial draft version of these responses can be found at the link below. Individual residents are free to comment directly to the Peak Park, but if you would like to feed into the response from the Parish Council, please email your thoughts to the Clerk.  HwAPC draft response to Peak Park plan

The Peak District National Park Authority is reviewing the Local Plan and is about to undertake a statutory consultation.  As part of this process, they will be holding a number of drop in consultation events, including ones in Hathersage Memorial Hall on 10 October (3 pm to 8 pm) and in Hope Sports Club on 15 October (1 pm to 5 pm).

We understand that Jon Pearce, the new MP for High Peak, is planning to hold a surgery in Hope on October 4th.  We don't have details on time and location at this point, but his Facebook page invites constituents to email him at Jon.Pearce.MP@parliament.uk to arrange a time for a consultation if you have an issue you want to raise with him.  He comments:  'My surgeries are private and confidential and are by appointment only to ensure people can have the time and space to share the issues they need advice or help with.'

Residents will no doubt already have noticed that since the end of June this service has been in operation, connecting Hope, Edale, Castleton, Chapel, Dove Holes and Buxton.  As far as we are aware, this will be a permanent new service.   For a full timetable click here:  Buxton to Hope bus service

Following the recent public information session at Bradwell Memorial Hall, the date is fast approaching on which the main road through Brough will be closed to traffic (from 17 June, for up to three months).  Extensive signage is planned to route traffic by a detour via Hathersage, Surprise View and round to Baslow (separate works are being undertaken at Grindleford during an overlapping time period).

The Old Hall Hotel has filed an application to extend its licensing hours.  A detailed discussion of this issue took place at the Parish Council on 8 July and is recorded in the minutes of that meeting.  Both Rick Ellison and the licensing officer have confirmed that performance of music in a tent or marquee will continue to require a special licence.