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Town Council Leisure & Parks Committee Meeting 4th Feb 2002
Matters
of particular interest: Town Councillors present: C. Barnes, W.I. Brindley, Sir G.M. Doughty, L.E. Dowson, I.S.E. Huddlestone, D. Rae (Vice-Chair). Apologies: D.T. Gladding, M. Huddleston. Mr C.J. Coombs described the work of the Countryside Service. The Sett Valley Trail, Torrs Park, Goyt Valley Way and adjoining walks including the Midshires Way constitute a major facility. As a result of a meeting about a year ago it had been agreed that the Countryside Service and New Mills Town Council should look at ways in which they can co-operate to manage this. Broadly the aim of the Countryside Service is to encourage people to get out and use the countryside and to engender understanding and respect for the countryside. They look to develop and promote the countryside and to raise environmental awareness. Part of this work involves managing sites and rights of way, ranging from small pieces of woodland to large estates. In New Mills they are involved in maintenance and promotion of the Sett Valley Trail (SVT). Typically this could involve working with a local group to improve a stile. More broadly they have involvement with the Midshires Way, Transpennine Trail and the future Pennine Bridleway/Cycleway. Some people are quite wary about going into the countryside, so the Countryside Service put on events to raise awareness. Paul Finn, Head Ranger based at Hayfield Information Centre, described the Countryside Service's purpose to provide for the well-being and health of people and wildlife - this needs a balance, which if done right benefits both sides. In the past the Rangers had blended in, but are now there to be seen and approached. There are more visitors and tourists to the area than people living here. The core of the job is to educate people, to show people their rights and responsibilities. Part of this involves work with schools and can tie in with the National Curriculum. Their function is to open people's eyes to see the nature in the sites. There is a need to get the community involved so that people feel a responsibility for the sites. Such projects have been undertaken at Mousley Bottom. Another example is the Health Walks, centred on the Leisure Centre in New Mills. Cllr Donald Rae described how the developments at Torr Vale Mill (TVM) had been the focus of co-operation with the Countryside Service a year ago, including involvement in an Environmental Centre at the Mill, and how paths would link into the site. Currently the Town Council are working with the Countryside Service with regard to Goytside Meadows. Cllr Rae asked Mr Coombs how he saw a partnership developing. Mr Coombs felt it depended on the size of the problem and how far it was wanted to go. The Countryside Service come at this from the point of common facilities. This could be low-key or formal. There could be sharing of promotion, marketing and bidding for funds. Cllr Lance Dowson asked if the Service have any legal powers, say in managing sites for owners. Mr Coombs said that English Nature would advise them in legal matters. Cllr Dowson gave the example of Tree Protection Orders which the Town Council would normally refer to HPBC. Mr Coombs said that for TPO were generally dealt with by county or borough councils. Cllr Chris Barnes asked if the 'Right to Roam' Act may bring conflicts of interest regarding wildlife. He felt that Foot-and-mouth had increased the numbers of moorland birds (implying that they had benefited from the absence of walkers). Cllr Sir Martin Doughty interjected to ask what evidence there was for this. Cllr Barnes said it was widely felt to be the case, and enquired as to the view of the Countryside Service. Mr Coombs described it as an Act which they had to live with, it throws emphasis on the need for educating people to appropriate behaviour in the countryside, which is a daunting task. Cllr Barnes reiterated the balance needed between enjoying and destroying the countryside. The Head Ranger felt that the problems would be on the edges of upland areas, and that the Act gave more protection to other moorland areas. Cllr Rae considered it as a matter of good management. Sir Martin agreed, indicating that 200 sq km of land in the Peak Park has access and there is no evidence it is damaged. The Act has provision to protect wildlife, and just needs to be properly managed. Some farmers were ploughing-up land to prevent access, that was the real damage. The perception of increased flora in the period of Foot-and-mouth was largely due to reduced grazing. To get back to the real matter at hand, the Town Council owns around 60% of Goytside Meadows and are in negotiation to acquire the rest of the site, the Countryside Service would be involved at this site. Sir Martin regretted that the Countryside Service had no event to be held at the reclaimed Mousley Bottom site. Vice-Chair Donald Rae asked how do we take the co-operation forward? They would pursue liaison on the Health Walks and a leaflet. Sir Martin asked if the doctors surgery were involved in prescribing the Health Walks. The Head Ranger said they had permission to put up posters in the surgery; prescriptions would be good, but there were problems such as insurance cover. Cllr Lance Dowson mentioned a similar involvement of HPBC which had been a failure and we might learn from them what the difficulties were. The Head Ranger thought the walks were not just for ill people but also for those who are inactive. Sir Martin described how the SVT trail fitted into the area in New Mills described as the third most deprived in the High Peak by the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The SVT is a valuable asset in this respect. The Head Ranger said he was in touch with Community Development Worker Lynne Allen of the Healthy Living Centre. Cllr Rae felt that other similar projects needed interlinking. Parks Foreman Alf Steele said that he often bumped into the Rangers during the course of his work as they are on adjoining land, such as at Mousley Bottom and the Midshires Way. Mr Coombs said they did keep an eye on the Torrs, but that there was no formal system of contact. Mr Steele thought that with better communication they could pick up sooner on problems. Cllr Rae said that in the past informal contacts had been strong and may have sufficed, but that it would now be better to formalise the contact. Cllr Barnes felt that health projects could be jointly promoted in doctors surgeries. The Head Ranger said they were seeking a sustained change in people's lifestyle rather than a one-off hit. He felt that there was also a need to look at disabled access. Cllr Donald Rae described how they had aimed to get external funding for access and lighting provision at TVM, and that the plans still exist for upgrading the paths. The Torrs is also used by many as an access route across the town. Sir Martin thought it physically impossible to get disabled access to some parts of the Torrs. The Head Ranger argued that certain points of access could be looked at, such as that from the Leisure Centre to the Torrs. Mr Coombs thought it would be possible to have a proper path from Hague Bar through to the Torrs. The Head Ranger considered it was not just a matter of provision for wheelchairs, many people had walking difficulties and needed good surfaces. Sir Martin described the problems with the steps at Dilworth & Morris. The Ranger replied that they had a site meeting to look at this tomorrow. Regarding application 0053 at Cambell's Mill, St George's Rd (Outline permission for 8 semi-detached houses and 3 terraced houses. Existing buildings to be demolished), the council had received a letter from John Charles Hill raising matters of loss of amenity.Cllr Sir Martin Doughty thought they council should seek to resist the demolition of the mill, which though not listed dated back to the end of the 18th century. John Potts had there developed from pottery printing a technique for calico printing which had subsequently become widely used and particularly in New Mills. There are also archaeological features on the site that need protecting. Cllr Lance Dowson described the mill as the second oldest after TVM. There were efforts to get it Grade II listed. Objections had been received from local residents as it is a further attack on the rural area they live in. Cllr Chris Barnes asked where the owners are from - do they have the interests of the town. Vice-Chair Donald Rae summarised that there were objections on two counts - the loss of the mill which they wished to see preserved and issues of loss of amenity for adjoining properties. Cllr Dowson said they should also indicate that residents have been in touch about this loss of amenity and traffic problems. Cllr Barnes commented on the need to get the Town Council objections in time for the Development Control Committee meetings. Cllr Dowson said they should be asked to contact us if they had not received the council's comments and then they could be faxed through. There were no objections to the application 0063 for an extension at 40 Hall St. However, the application 0073 for two self-contained flats off Poplar Avenue was described by Sir Martin as a very very difficult site to access, with only a single vehicle-width road owned by HPBC for access to garages, and next to a Town Council play area. This would be 'back development' and over-development according to planning rules. Cllr Barnes also described it as an odd site involving access across a grass verge. Vice-Chair Donald Rae moved to opposed the application. From the minutes of the last meeting. a) A few jobs at Whittle Rd play area were in hand, according to the Parks Foreman. b) Rent reviews - material would be prepared for the next meeting. c) Work agreed for the toilets at High Lee Park had been given an estimate by Brown & Smith. Cllr Barnes called for a further estimate to be obtained, which was agreed. Parks Foreman Alf Steele described the removal of two hypodermic needles pushed into the toilet through a hole which has now been made up. Cllr Rae said there was a need to monitor any problems with needles. d) It was agreed to go ahead with the work on the stable gates. Vice-Chair Cllr Rae described a further minuted budget item (219) which had not been done. Stephen Lewis described the proposal to honour the civilian dead with a plaque at the Fire Station commemorating the air-raid, at its 60th anniversary this July. Draft wording for the plaque:
A letter from survivor Rev Handford (whose sister died) supported the idea of the plaque. As proposed, the cost would be £150. Another option was a plaque of the sort to be seen on the old police station in Hall St. At Torr Top a stone memorial was proposed. This might be erected as part of the current building work on Rock St. Currently the cost is uncertain, but it would be over £150. It would carry the following inscription:
Sir Martin said the aim should be to have a plaque on the Fire Station wall by July 3rd and to invite Rev Handford along to the unveiling. Permission would be needed from the Fire Service and a decision should be taken on materials - stainless steel would be better than brass. Cllr Lance Dowson described a plastic resin plaque used by HPBC which might be less trouble. He understood the event had occurred at 8 o'clock in the evening, which would be an appropriate time for the ceremony in July. Sir Martin moved to have a stainless steel plaque and accept the wording of Stephen Lewis. They would apply to the Fire Authority for permission. The stone memorial at Torr Top needed negotiation with the builders, it could be agreed in principle, but there was more time to deal with this one. A letter had been received about renting Waterside for grazing. Sir Martin described how horses cause huge problems for visitors on the track at Waterside, so the agreement was now terminated and the horses gone. They should consider writing to Carol Whitehead to suggest that they may be able to offer some grazing at Goytside. The Park Foreman said this would be OK over the summer. Cllr Barnes said the winter was the main problem. Cllr Sir Martin Doughty described how a year ago he had suggested to the Town Council and it had been agreed to formalise access onto two pieces of land used by the public for 21 years or more. These are the 'Piccer' and 'Mill fields' which have links to the SVT. Horse riders use an unofficial path from SVT to Salem Mill area to avoid St George's Rd with its difficult bend. There is right of way from the 'Piccer' onto Bridge St, however, there are other routes in use. Sir Martin suggested filling in the forms to pursue Public Right of Way use for 2 or 3 routes - one for bridleway status, the others footpath. Most of the site is owned by an out-of-town landlord, while the Town Council own some land by Dyehouse Ln. There is a new status for land as a 'Town Common' if it can be proved to have been in use by local people for over 20 years. All sorts of activities have been undertaken on this land. The process leads to a Public Inquiry. Open Spaces Society are experts in this and Sir Martin moved that the Town Council should join. He will draw-up claim forms and send it all off to County Highways. Vice-Chair Donald Rae agreed to joining Open Spaces Society and to begin the process to get the footpaths officially recognised. Cllr Lance Dowson had a letter regarding lighting between Torr Top carpark and the Sett Valley surgery. Sir Martin said there is a floodlight covering this path, but it is not lit - it should be put on the county list. He has emailed County Environmental Services. Cllr Barnes had had a complaint about the path at the top of Meadow St, which needs a light. Cllr Dowson said a similar path off the Crescent had not been regarded by County as their responsibility. Sir Martin said that the County can adopt a light if the capital cost is met by others. Cllr Dowson said there may be money for this from Police Community Security. At this point the public were asked to leave and the Council discussed Ollersett Playing Fields and Staff matters. |
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