November 8th Meeting Notes & Summary

Market Street Development meeting held at CODA Vinyl Café on 8 th November 2018
This initial meeting was attended by local businesses, community/voluntary organisations and residents.

• 6 local businesses were represented with 7 apologies received
• 3 Community/Voluntary Organisations
• 16 Higher Buxton residents

The proposal

• Demolish all buildings and the tree on the Council Depot site and reduce the size of the Market Street Car Park
• Build 40 new houses (Local Plan Identifies 24), 30% of these will be affordable housing
• Reduction of car parking by over 50%, 92 parking places have been identified currently, where as the report suggests this will be reduced to 43 (including the current 6 disabled access spaces)
• The local Planning Policy (DS 23) says developments should aim to retain at least existing car parking spaces

The concerns

1. Street scene. The demolition of three existing houses which run along Market Street will detract from the local street scene. The houses are in keeping with the local buildings. While Market Street is not part of the conservation area it does seem important to preserve Buxton’s heritage. It is recognised that these will require investment due to the years in
   which they have been allowed to decay and suffered from neglect.
2. No meaningful community consultation
3. No street notices on Market Street
4. No engagement with residents outside the immediate bordering area. People living at adjoining roads are not aware of the proposal and it can have a major impact on them – for example South Avenue, South Street, Dale Road, Hollins Street on the right-hand side
5. No sense of an integrated plan for Higher Buxton which includes: what businesses want and need; reflects tourism development and the links between different interested parties and geographical areas
6. Total lack of investment in Higher Buxton compared to the Crescent, Opera House, Octagon, etc.
7. The proposal appears to be a quick fix rather than a creative solution based on local need and wishes
8. Health and Safety – currently the only way to gain emergency access is through the existing entrance to the car park this will be lost within the proposal. Market Street currently has no gritting, leaf clearance and emergency vehicles cannot get up the street. Please see freedom
   of information request from Dave Turnicliffe 2 on HPBC Planning Portal.
9. Local young people have been knocked down and there is no defined crossing place. The current situation gives significant concerns with the existing spaces. These issues will be amplified by a reduction in car parking provision contained within the proposal.
10. Disabled Parking – currently 6 available spaces, there is evidence of increased demand due to the expansion of Bright Opportunities and now insufficient spaces to meet existing demand.
11. Data Protection – residents have feared making their views known as their comments and addressed are then within the public domain. Local Business people do not want to be seen as anti-development even though they have legitimate concerns.
12. Car Parking allocations within the proposal are for 1 space per household national statistics show that the national average is 1.2 cars per household. Where are the extra cars going to go?
13. The Market stall holders require car parking so that the market can grow and flourish. The proposal highlights a significant reduction in parking for shoppers and people accessing local businesses.
14. Some local residents are concerned that demolition assessors have already been on site in advance of the Outline Planning Phase being worked through.
15. There are significant housing developments going ahead on the outskirts of Buxton. Harpur Hill 500 new houses and 300 at Waterswallows. These new developments will place increasing demand on town centre parking.
16. The Market Street car park is utilised by the fair and there seems little thought and consideration of how the fairground needs can be met and this tradition maintained.

Next steps

1. To make sure that all the objections within the community are lodged and recognised. Please leave your objections on the HPBC planning portal.
   
2. To convene a further meeting on Monday 19 th November at 6pm at South 16. Invites to include local councillors Jean Todd, Matt Stone, Sarah Poru (Planning), Mark Forrester, (Community), Terry Crawford (Car Parking), local businesses and residents, Buxton Advertiser, High Peak Radio,
   
3. To convene a sub group meeting at London Road pub on Monday 12th November at 6pm.
   
4. Alison, Paula, Dave and Kev. Others most welcome.
   To develop a flyer to highlight the issues and to distribute across Higher Buxton – Alison and Paula
   
5. To create a What’s App group, Email List, Website – Dave is lead
   
6. To create a unified approach with each vested interest of Higher Buxton and a vision for the area. We want to put forward positive suggestions based on what local people want. Ideas include a Heritage Centre, increased Green Spaces for the Community, increased Car Parking, bringing people into the area to spend, creating something Bohemian and Hip, Buxton’s Northern Quarter, Town Centre Regeneration monies, indoor market with decent
   parking. Days when Car Parking fees are waived to encourage people to shop and spend. A change to the current approach of High Business Rates with little extra benefits.

Notes recorded by Kevin Skingsley V1, 1 st Draft