Annual Town Meeting 29th May 2002

At a meeting of Town Councillors and over 100 local residents a variety of important issues of concern to the community of New Mills were raised and discussed.
The most significant outcome of the meeting was the passing of a proposal to hold a referendum on use of land at the front of the Town Hall for access by a Courthouse development - SEE BELOW

A synopsis is given below of interesting and salient matters.

In the first part of the meeting the newly appointed New Mills Town Council (TC) Chairman Ian Huddlestone described the many and varied activities of the TC over the past 12 months. Cllr Martin Huddleston reported on the work of The Parks and Leisure Committee. Cllrs Lance Dowson and Roy Bickerton described the involvement of HPBC in local matters, and Sir Martin Doughty did the same for DCC.

After a short break the meeting was opened to questions from all attending.

Pam Cohen described work undertaken on land between St Georges Rd and Church Ln, where planning permission for an access road and houses has recently been rejected. She highlighted the difficulty of alerting the authorities to the concerns of residents about work done at weekends.

Margaret Constable spoke of similar problems regarding tree felling at a potential housing site at the bottom of High St and the unsuitability of the site for further housing. A planning application for 11 apartments on this site had been regarded as suitable by the Town Council, but Cllr Ian Huddlestone said this would have to be reconsidered in the light of this meeting.

A protracted discussion then ensued surrounding issues to do with the development of a Magistrates Court on land adjacent to the Town Hall - the subject of a recent appeal against rejection by HPBC, and now granted permission by a Public Inquiry Inspectorate.

Cllr Ian Huddlestone declared the great benefits of the proposed development. There will be a meeting with developers Babcock and Brown regarding matters which need resolving, including the sale of access land at the rear owned by the TC. If the sale of this land was prevented there may be implications of a surcharge on the TC and a Compulsory Purchase Order which would leave the TC in a very weak position.

Bob Norris spoke for New Mills Interest Group about the need for democracy and the importance of this issue for the TC. It would be best to lease the land at the rear. The land at the front of the Town Hall is held in trust since 1875. The PFI developer will want absolute access across this land. The TC should not sell any of this land or allow access.

Peter Simmonds reiterated the parking problems which the Courthouse would cause.

Eric Armstrong stated that the meeting could set in motion a ballot of the New Mills electorate on any issue supported by 10 or more people. The HPBC Development Control Committee had unanimously rejected the Courthouse at this site. Over 1000 had rejected it by petition. Only the Inquiry Inspector had found in favour. Mr Armstrong put forward the proposal:

"The plot of land to the front of New Mills Town Hall, which is owned by the people of New Mills and held in Trust by the Town Council, shall not be sold, leased, gifted, transferred or disposed of in any other manner to any third party for the building of a courthouse. In addition, the Town Council shall not allow access to, or use of the said land for purposes related to the building of a courthouse."

Bob Halls (?) asked if the meeting could be hijacked in this way. Chairman Ian Huddlestone replied that the procedure was legitimate. If passed by 10 people it must go to poll, at a likely cost of £6,500. The referendum would be binding on the Council. Cllr Sir Martin Doughty thought the legislation uncertain and would need checking. There would need to be rules about what numbers counted as a valid vote.

There was much further discussion about the appropriateness and utility of a ballot. A gap in proceedings regarding the matter occurred while Gail Jennings described her continued efforts to save the Launderette and to press for a new sub-Post Office at Cale Rd.

A vote was then taken on the proposal by Eric Armstrong, which then had the backing of the required 10 signatures. The proposal was passed by around 42 votes for to 8 against.

Further matters were discussed until gone 11pm.

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