Clowne Community Association

Apologies
Margaret Gillway, Archie Crookston, Dorothy Crookston, Irvine Robinson, Arthur Heap, Andrew Thomas

3 Presentations were made

1. Steve Davidson from Aldi ( Area Manager Clowne and Worksop)
Steve set out the background to the company. Privately owned by the Albrecht Brothers( Discount) gives the name. They have 3-400 stores in UK and Ireland and 7,000 total.
They are still in expansion and hope to open 1 store per week. They are seen as a stable company with further growth potential. Their target is value products at low prices.
Aldi don’t supply brand name but do buy in specially supplied items looking for equal quality at low price. No baskets are supplied-most people prefer trolleys and it keeps costs down.
Packing is done separately for the same reason get people through the tills quicker.
Special buy days Thursday and Sunday are limited and on a first cone first served basis
The Clowne store gives competition and provides Jobs for the local area.
Questions included:
Any interest in the other shop units- This is with Aldi property so unsure.
Source of produce is a mix of UK and foreign and Aldi do have local buyers dotted around the country(6) Produce side is very popular
Aldi are happy with the performance level so far of the store
Disabled trolleys are available but baskets are not available
Vegetables are all Class 1 products with daily ordering
They have 10 staff and all but 1 are local
The range of tinned produce tends to be smaller than similar stores but they are looking to increase the product range- (recent Phil Vickery promotion.)
Any suggestions for change then please pass these on to the store- A suggestion box was put forward as a good idea.
( NOTE- and has been put up in store.)
Job vacancies are advertised in the local paper and through open day
Aldi were congratulated on the quality of the build of the store.
On Health and Safety they don’t have someone in store but they do have assessments with Bolsover DC and their own weekly/quarterly review.
A problem with vermin was highlighted by people and will be looked at.
Barrier posts on the car park entrances have been quoted for and are looking at options.
Environment / Clowne in Bloom support- suggested we contact the local store manager Andrea or Assistant Manager Mark.
Tesco’s help community projects do Aldi do this?
Aldi tend to work at A Regional level for such project support and sponsor big projects. They hope to have a Yorkshire Region HQ and give support for community projects through this.
If there is anything local then put if forward to the store manager eg they have done volunteer projects where area managers have team building work?
Traffic on the Mill Green Way roundabout is seen as a real risk with potential for accidents . Is one way suggested . This is not seen as an answer at present.

2. Rob Kay from the Chesterfield College
The College has been open now 3 and a half years. Rob is happy to come to the Association and answer questions as he has done before.
Sept is the College start back month and they are getting busier each year and are now virtually up to capacity now with 500 students versus capacity of 550. So most days there are an extra 500 people in the village with the local spend potential that brings.
This is positive and negative eg Rob has been to The Angel pub on litter visits several times.
If there is a problem Rob will always respond and try to sort it out.
The new construction workshop cost £1.7M covering bricklaying, joinery, plumbing and was extra to the main building cost of £10-11 Million. They have no plans to expand further.
The new allotments area has been provided for special needs students- poly tunnel and raised beds.
And they do recycling in the community – Have won a Green Flag award for recycling and energy efficiency.
The Gala was run again at The College this year and ther is aregular Committee to manage this and it is open to anyone to join- 3 to 4 meetings to work to the next date in Sept 2009.
Fitness
They have leisure, fitness suite, dance studio, sports hall that are open to all.
Reduce srates and competitive rates of £18 per month. Best in the world techno –gym ( same as Manchester Utd and F1 Treadmill)- all are electronically set up to suit each individual.
Anyone is welcome to drop in and can purchase short sessions cards. Visistors are welcome to walk round – eg visist the library and use a computer/ go on the internet. The coleg is very open to the community.
School students visit The College and work at a higher level.
Breedon House childcare is a third party operator independent with a lease of the premises. They take kids from 0 upwards The College purchase 30 places a year from them and operate a sliding scale subsidy – most students get free child care places.
Why aren’t  there many non vocational courses at Clowne?
There seem to be sourses in Barlborough and Creswell but none here.
The college is reliant on the Govt supported funding it gets through LSC and this has to be for accredited courses. This will change when the LSC go.
There will be schools 14-19 national funding and then post 19 responsibility goes back to the Local Education Authority for funding allocation.
The College have to had to a make of 12 people redundant recently.
The key is if the course has a qualification.
Q Why are The College not advertising for interest in Courses?
French was quoted as an example
Rob Kay assured that The College do offer French.
The College also need 10 people on a course to be viable.
Approach the College in Sept and see what is available.
It was commented by Association that it is a Top Class facility and that people are making use of the Fitness centre.
Access
There are busy rods to cross and are there any plans o upgrade access?
Rob commented that Derbyshire Highways still have some £100,00 of College funds put on one side for the junction improvements. The College are aware it is an awkward junction. The College start tends to be after the local schools run pressures at 9:30 and so they don’t conflict as much.
Swimming?
The College was never going to have a swimming baths
They would like to build one but they don’t make money and so would need subsidy.
It is the Bolsover council responsibility-Steve Singleton contact.
College have suggested a possible location at the side on the land owned by the Junior School but this would be a loss of playing fields. The College train lifeguards already from Chesterfield.

The Road junction is a Derbyshire County Council issue
Can we get Cllr Brian Lucas ( Transport and Environment remit)  to attend the Association to discuss?
And Cllr Anne Western.
Mansfield Rd residents would rather see baths than house put on the playing fields.
Students could perhaps grow plants for the Clowne in Bloom planting?
Parking on Saturday/ Sunday on the College site- people tend to be blocking up Mansfield Rd?
The College allow footballers to use their car park. But players have been inconsiderate by knocking mud off their boots in the car park and have been asked not to.
So maybe they park on Mansfield Rd in preference.
Creswell Pool is quoted as a good local facility and we should use and we also have access to Staveley new pool
We cannot have a pool in every village Staveley new fitness centre cost £6-8Million to build and costs £330,000 pa to run
The number of visits to a pool in Clowne would not pay back the build and running costs.
The College tends to look grubby from the outside?
Rob Kay commented that the architects chosen finish is plaster / painted rather than UPVC and so it will need maintenance / repainting through its life.
Have only had 2 vandalism problems on site since opening
Hours of the Library are 9-5 plus a late night Tues or Thurs?

3. PCSO Update
PC Tanya Morton and PCSO Peter
Derbyshire CC have not taken over Parking regulation responsibility now as previously expected due to Govt policy change. The Police officer has been on Mill Street and has been ticketing cars on Mill Street who were parked illegally.
The officer was thanked for her efforts and it is hoped this will show results.
Crime figures  - Sept/Oct
                                                          Sept               October
Assaults                                       0                      0
Criminal Damage                         9                      25
Burglary Dwelling                        6                      3
Burglary non-dwelling                  5                      0
Theft from motor vehicle             4                      1
Theft of MV                               1                      1
Violence                                     8                      9
Total crimes                               33                    39

Nuisance incidents                     37                    42
Next Police surgery will be held on Saturday 20 December at Tesco café 10-12.
Note from January these will be held in the new Parish House.
Can be confidential if needed just contact the PCSO.
The big increase in criminal damage was specific to Sunny Bank area and police are working with the Parish Council on dealing with this. At least one patrol after dark on alleys from Sunny Bank to Northfields. There is a zero tolerance approach with nuisance kids. They are taking the details of groups of youths and are tackling it.
Nuisance letters and ABC’s will be issued. If there is a breach then they will go to ASBO.
Police would like people to report to them what is happening.
0845-123 333
0345 number from next Monday.

Relationship with Tesco was raised. The Tesco gate is not always being closed and youths are driving round the car park
The Chairman will approach Tesco.
The Tesco Zebra Crossing markings are faded and there is a risk of cars not stopping. It is their responsibility to maintain.
The Old college site has the building been made secure?
Suggested it has been done
Chairman  has spoken to Bolsover DC and they said they would check again and get Bellway Homes to secure it.
 Keep reporting this to Bolsover Council was suggested.
Mill Street Fridays at about 5 is suggested as the worst time for nuisance parking.
Why does the bus still use Mill St now that Mill Green Way is open? It was stated that there was still an adoption problem from highways with the new road and until then the bus route is uncertain. Derbyshire CC have told Tesco what needs doing.
Have spoken to Police Inspector and the Police will be addressing the illegal parking problem.
On the question of police hours, the PCSO are not on duty after midnight, and police work from 8 till midnight - after that call out response is allocated from Bolsover station house.
It was commented that every night after 10 a Tesco delivery lorry will reverse across the new roundabout blocking the whole road. It was understood that the design and layout was such that only forward gear access was intended and this will be checked with Tesco.
On the 18 December people  are invited to a meeting at The Community Centre to review and discuss Community Panel and Profiles – 7pm.
The Pc and PCSO were thanked for their presentation.

4. Main Association Business

Minutes Secretary
We are still seeking someone who will help with this?- please contact Chair or  a Cttee member

Minutes of last Association meeting   25 09 08 were accepted- moved and seconded by the meeting.
Matters Arising  
Noted that the £50,000 mentioned in the minutes for PCSO’s was the Parish Council Precept.
2 PCSO’s supported by The Council
2 PCSO’s supported  by Parish Precept
Noted that the sale income from the site now occupied by the Health Clinic is banked by the Parish Council and used for Play area, Parish House etc.

5. Chairmans Report
Thanks were expressed to Ken Parker for laying the wreath for the Community Assoc at the Remembrance Parade.
The footpath at the side of Aldi is now open and agreed with the landowner.  District Councillors J.Smith and T.Connerton and the Parish met with the landowner. Concern over public safety from vehicles movements is still there and so a low barrier may be erected during reversing and people are asked to be aware and take care.
Incident of The Cross bollard being hit by a car was noted. It was only travelling slowly but the driver apparently swerved away from another oncoming vehicle and the impact took out the bollard that was only about 6inches deep.
Derbyshire CC are apparently proposing to put road calming around The Welfare and Mill Street.

Next Meeting speakers
None noted

6. Group Reports
Not reported

8. Any Other Business
Swimming
Mrs Wharton had written to MP about the issue of the lack of a swimming pool in Clowne
Reply received from Dennis Skinner MP and referred on to Gov Department for Culture Media and Sport who had also replied.
Commented that the Govts. Free Swimming Capital Reward Fund had about £10m in 08/9 , and in 09/10 year and 10/11. This was with the local authority Bolsover DC for decision on investment.
The reduction in the  Bus Service 85 that serves Thee Chesterfield Hospital had been raised with Brian Lucas from Derbyshire CC who replied that it was not economical.
Members of the Assoc commented that Clowne was treated as the poor relation to Bolsover town when these services are looked with a much less frequent service. There is no service from The Hospital at evening visiting times. Passengers have to go into Chesterfield or Bolsover first and then catch another service.
Cllr Brian Lucas has been quoted as promoting new routes recently.

Chairman undertook to raise this.

Evacuees and The Lowestoft Journal .
 A clipping from the Journal was mentioned by Sharon Gregory.
Can you help to make contact for those who fostered people. The names of Mr and Mrs Winnard on Salvin Crescent- does anyone know of the family?

Attendance
There were 35 members present

Raffle was held and people were thanked for their donations

Next meetings   7pm Clowne Welfare
                     
Dates  confirmed for  2009
29 January 2009
26 March 2009
28 May 2009 ( AGM?)
30 July 2009
24 September 2009
26 November 2009