Thank you to everyone who attended our impromptu meeting highlighting the newly submitted, amended outline planning application for the Market Street development. Special thanks to Nuno and the team at South 16 for hosting our meeting.
Meeting highlights:
We had planned a public demonstration, however due to significant changes in the local HPBC this demonstration has now been cancelled.
- We urge everyone to submit their comments to the online portal, even if they have already submitted. Public consultation ends Saturday 4th of May 2019.
- The main issues are losing the amount of parking, also concerns about environmental impact of demolition (noise and dirt) and the neglect of the site and buildings leading to their state of disrepair
- There may well be valuable archaeological potential on the site, evidence of early Roman settlement in the area and easy access for excavation
Please email info@higherbuxtonactiongroup.co.uk with any questions and useful contributions.
Meeting notes 29/04/19 7pm South 16
Started at 19:05, around 40 attendees.
Welcome to the fourth meeting of HBAG.
Before we kick off, let’s see a show of hands who have been before – approx 12 people. Majority are first-time attendees.
Around 10 people had received postal notification from the council about the amended, re-submitted outline plan. Around 25 people had received notification from Higher Buxton Action Group.
Some attendees pointed out they are local residents and have not heard anything about this development until receiving our poster this weekend just gone. Around 15 had received notification from the council, at least 30 had received notification from HBAG.
The story so far
We started in November 2018 first meeting South 16, two more meetings following on before having a meeting with council including Dai Larner (Head of regeneration at HPBC) to put points across. Roddie, Dick and a few other members attended. We felt they were receptive but didn’t listen to everything that was said on behalf of the group.
Main points:
- Parking
- Suggesting existing building have been let into disrepair can be repaired
- Saving the tree & Environmental issues
Discussed the initial plan and whether it was appropriate. Clearly everyone who has contacted us wants regeneration of the area but with cost concerns.
The project went quiet for a long time before the amended plan suddenly came online recently with a short 14 day period for public consultation.
HBAG have a call with Buxton Advertiser tomorrow morning 9:30am (30/04/19).
The amended outline plan caught us off guard, old plan 40 houses, new plan 32, old plan community garden, new plan this garden was replaced by parking. Nationally recognised that there should be 2 parking spaces for 2 and 3 bed houses, 3 parking spaces for 4 bed houses.
One attendee said, “The only positive idea I can see is that the garages are no longer being used as street access garages which would have disrupted street residential parking”
Another attendee said that the private parking spaces in the outline plan may not be reserved for the residents of the new houses, that permit holders may be able to use the parking spaces allocated private.
One attendee says it’s the first they’ve heard about the development. 12 people have seen notification from council. 25 people received notification from HBAG. One attendee said consultation should be extended as lots of local residents only just hearing about the development. Conversation about the amount of parking spaces proposed is against / in contravention with the local plan for new housing requirements.
Only one person attending (David Bowyer) who doesn’t live in this area (but he has a business in the area). There was a sense of disappointment about losing local heritage buildings. It was felt that perhaps Dai Larner couldn’t see the value of keeping these old local heritage buildings.
We spoke about the environmental impact part of the plan, losing trees, demolishing buildings. A member spoke again about the history of the area, how it was once used for stabling and a merchant’s yard. This site is very likely to be part of the early Roman settlement of Buxton and it has not been built on so it could yield fantastic archeological results. If there is evidence of Roman settlement, then technically these are the strongest points against being developed
Two attendees spoke about the challenges of building development with potential for Roman evidence. Planning might have to be modified to include the correct authoritative figures, ensuring proper procedures are in place in the event of historic / roman / archaeological important finds.
One attendee kindly brought a print out of the HPBC concept statement from 2003 for the area, which was more of a contemporary and preservative plan. There was great interest in the 2003 document – many other people in the room looked at print outs which were produced by the council.
One member exclaimed about the new plan “It’s Rubbish! What more can be said?” It was agreed that the outline plan has just been plonked, like a housing estate in the middle of a Victorian town. The older plan instantly looks much more attractive. A local business owner makes a point about it looking like they’re attempting to put a one way traffic system in.
Ally from The Town Team asked what’s the likelihood of maintaining the current parking, maybe adding a multi story car park, and simply building houses on the Council’s yard? Generally people thought this would be unlikely.
Cattle market is at full capacity during working hours (9-5 mon-fri)
Someone pointed out that the car park is being closed on Wednesday, any cars left there will be fined. It later emerged that the car park was being used to cater for a large delivery of stone for the Crescent.
Where will the fair people sleep when the Cattle Market is changed? They pay £10K+ to use the space for the week, on top of the money generated for the local economy
A South avenue Resident says 4 years ago that the HPBC council would not allow the small car park outside South 16 to be turned into a small park because there was not enough parking in the area.
Parking on pavements is blocking disabled wheelchair users and parents with prams.
The council threatened that if they came to review the dangers posed by the current parking situation, then DCC may be forced to stop any parking on one side of the road of Market Street with double yellow lines, residents were audibly dismayed.
A member reads out from the 2003 plan “there are 90 parking spaces, they need to be preserved at least 100%, if not increased”
A local resident asks if Dai Larner mentioned how many developers are interested in developing the area? It was replied that the advice they got had forced them into this situation, needing flats and congested living arrangements. Dai kept referring to this so called advice. Two experienced property developers say they have never seen the 2003 plan – they think the first question is “What happened to the 2003 plan? Why was it not pursued?”
The Cattle Market is it in a conservation area? No. Just outside.
Mr. Salt’s ancestor Penelope Cook mentioned the Duke of Devonshire passed the land to the Salt brothers, not clear but at some point one of the brother’s passed the land to the council, not sure of terms. Lady from Chatsworth has not responded to multiple enquiries. Council have no idea.
Could do an FOI on the covenant, maybe not a priority at this time.
Lots of interesting stuff about people who have been around town for nearly 100 years who know about the local history.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION
We spoke about bringing together a plan of what we have covered during the meetings, to be sent to Ben Haywood. If it isn’t further delayed then this group needs to speak at the planning committee meeting, they will have 3 minutes to speak about what the group has covered and debated.
It was disappointing that no one from the council would come to the meetings, they said resources are tight and couldn’t afford for anyone to come to the meeting.
Action
People asked about protesting, placards, super gluing ourselves to something! It’s the run up to the elections .
The most disconcerting feeling about all of this is that there is something underhand going on, a level of secrecy and outlandishness which bothers local residents and business owners. Attendees spoke about what to do to raise the point and the profile of the application.
Members are in favour of development and regeneration, preserving and increasing parking. You can buy an annual parking pass in the Cattle Market for £400.
One prominent business owner doesn’t understand how the council can submit a plan which they decide whether it will go ahead or not. HPBC used to not be able to do this, but they dropped it in the name of efficiency.
HPBC keep saying it’s not final, but once there is an outline plan with houses agreed, the contract can be sold and it’s as good as done.
“It’s a rubbish plan” and they are disposing of public land for cash.
Next planning meeting is 20th May – may be discussed there?. The planning meeting is always in Chapel, why protest outside Buxton Town Hall? It will be good for the photo. Do it on a Tuesday Market Day showing Cattle Market full to the brim and supporters outside Town Hall. It was later concluded that the amended outline plan will not be discussed at the May planning committee meeting .
One local resident says it would be worth putting it on 38 degrees, the council must respond if they get 1,000 signatures
Another resident asks “Is a public space in Buxton being decided the future of by people who don’t live in Buxton?”
People suggesting times for the public demonstration – 11am on a Tuesday, between 10 and 12, a few agree 12 noon, people could have an extended lunch hour.
Decided 12 noon on Tuesday 14th May, bring placards and leaflets (This plan has since been cancelled)
Original plan went in October 2018, if they got outline permission in May, they would need a more detailed plan within 3 years. Once you have outline planning permission to keep 50 car parking places, you’re only going to keep 50 car parking places.
Need to find out when the planning meeting is taking place.
One member questioned if a local councillor is re-elected, will they keep the Car Park – They replied it’s difficult, on one hand yes we want to keep parking, on the other we want to build council housing. Not a decision that she can make alone.
Apparently if they demolish and rebuild, it will only actually increase total dwellings by 2-3 people. No Bat survey. Insufficient resident parking.
One rule for one, and one rule for another.
A recurring theme
Residents should have the first say on what happens, they’ve paid council tax all their lives to build a community in this area. Parking is so much worse than it was in 2005.
Why can’t there be a one way system put in to improve parking? DCC said they would be willing to compromise.
We’ll plan another meeting after May 20th once we know the date of planning meeting.