Clowne Community Association

.Apologies
Hilary Wignell, Mr & Mrs Clarke, Irvine Robinson, Andy Thomas Mr & Mrs Smith, John Metcalfe, Joy Smith, Abigail Thurnell

3 Presentations were made

Partnership started 2003 and first officers in 2005- covers countryside, parks etc.
Ian covers Bolsover sites including links to major landowners Chatsworth etc.
His key task is bio-diversity in Bolsover- 85% of the area is classed as green.
Covers a large number of colliery sites now green areas and 200 miles of footpaths. Works with local groups like Clowne Access Group.
He also works on education - Schools Think Green campaign with National Trust – appreciation of countryside with Years 4 and 5.
Young peoples engagement  with BTCV – long term unemployed.
Education to Employment E2E in Shirebrook – apprentices back into work.
He covers 1,000-1,100 acres of Derbyshire sites including Poulter 260 acres , Pleasley CP , Bolsover DC sites including Clowne Linear Park.
Covers rights of Way advice to landowners and couldn’t do the work without people like the Clowne Access Group.
Currently trying to get a bicycle group involved in Bridleway Care.
Stockley Trail Doe Lea has multi-user routes and the 5 Pits Trail, Silverhill Trail.
SITA are supporting a grassland project and unimproved grassland is rare , the limestone in our area is older than the Peak area.
Has equipment to allow access including Clowne Linear Park area for scrub removal. BTCV have been taking out trees in the area. Diversity of species should increase and the grassland habitat is rarer than the scrub trees in this area. This includes Creswell Crags meadow along with others. They hope to restore 25Ha –some 25% of the national total.
A Walking to Wellness project is planned, this is a Natural England project. Encouraging groups to set up in each town doing weekly  walks. This gives multiple health benefits-obesity, diabetes, heart health etc. and also leads to better mental health.
Also working on Rights of Way improvement with landowners. Hopes for a group to set up in Clowne in the summer. 1 Day training is offered for group leaders run by Chesterfield group. A new group in Creswell last year now have 15 regular walkers every week – 30 in the group and 7 are now leaders.
Questions
Stanfree confusion over who owns a right of way was raised. The law defines who is responsible. People can register with Derbyshire CC any rights of way issues. Sometimes Parishes take direct responsibility.
The Screens at Stanfree was mentioned as a potential problem area with vandalism etc. It is the landowners responsibility.
Control over footpaths used as a bridleway. If it is done with the landowners permission then they have to widen it to bridleway standards.and height and then over time it would become a bridleway.
On a problem area can serve notice on the riding stable.
Clowne Grips is part of a greenway project- but Ian is not directly involved.
He hopes to link Frith Wood to Poulter Park and a lottery bid is being made.
Path at the side of the Old Rectory is poorly maintained.  Has been highlighted to Bolsover DC.
Ian suggested to possibly have  a community clean up day? It was noted that this has been tried. The steps are dangerous and slippery.
Clowne seems to be lacking in longer linear routes?
The Access Group tried to focus on the Old Railway line through to Seymour sidings at Markham. This has been identified for future. Still owned by Network Rail. Some plans to incorporate the line would anticipate taking ownership but then also take over the maintenance liability. The schools link relies on funding to expand this. What funding is needed?  Clowne is isolated from opportunities and yet is in a great area for landscape/ environment. What can we do to get funding? Sustrans would bid into the same Lottery routes. Bridge over the rail line was raised. The Access group did contact Sustrans and Rail co. in the past.
Back of the Chesterfield College to Oxcroft lane?
Horses tend to run at people across this footpath. There is no legal power to change this but Ian can have a word with the landowner. A resident commented that Footpath 19 also has huge amounts of ragwort that are poisonous to horses and so they should be kept out of this field anyway.
The skateboard footpath was being used as a horse trotting exercise area.

2. PCSO Update

PC Susie Sloane
Mill Street ticketing of cars that were parked illegally.
The officer was thanked for her efforts and it is hoped this will show results.
Clowne Crime figures  - December
                                            Undetected ---- Detected       In Progress ------ Total 
Burglary non-dwelling                  5                      -                       -                      5
Burglary Dwelling                        8                      -                       1                      9
Theft                                           5                      5                      3                      13
Criminal Damage                        6                      -                       2                      8
Assaults                                      7                      1                      3                      11
Possession of Drugs                    -                      1                      1                      1
Theft from motor vehicle             4                      -                       -                       4
Harrassment                               1                      -                       -                       1
Robbery                                     1                      -                       -                       1
Vehicle Interference                    1                      -                       -                       1
Total crimes                                                                                                     54
Police had a community meeting last month on Community Profiles.
The 3 profiles selected are
          Friday Nights
          The jitty between Sunny Brook Close and King street
          Mill Street Parking problems
At least 30 tickets have been issued and 20 advisory notices.
The next profile meeting is in 3 months time.
Also monthly surgeries in Tesco café. They have had some success and named offenders. In Bolsover the PCSO’s are paid for by District Council. Why has Clowne Parish got to pay for these here ? Parish Council meeting is the place to raise this issue. They do sponsor 2 PCSOs. It is the case throughout Bolsover District that some Parishes pay for extra support. We, the community , must help. By being the eyes and ears and reporting what we see to the PCSOs.

John acts as development worker and helps groups with constitution advice etc.
The role of the community and voluntary sector on communities is huge. New Inspection report and Govt White Paper emphasises their role . Regeneration needs to be owned by communities.
Consultation should mean real involvement. There are 600 groups in Bolsover district.
Its about lots of people doing lots of small things.
There are lots of people in Bolsover who are putting their time into voluntary and community work. People who are the experts are the people who live in the area. Community want to improve the lives of the people where they live

CVP acts with lead partners. The clear message CVP are giving to partners is talk with our members directly they have the local knowledge.

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   .

The Zebra crossing in Tesco access road is still worn away and needs repainting – safety issue. Chair has asked Derbyshire CC and was told it had been done but it seems they may have assumed it was the one on Mill Green Way not the Tesco one. Chair will ask Tesco again.
Gate closure ? Tesco were asked about this and they did shut it but now its getting left open again.
PCSO are aware of the cars issue and will raise this again. Youths in cars are creating an issue across Aldi car park. Groups of young people are tending to congregate evening time . People are asked to report issues to the regular Police surgeries .

5. Chairmans Report

The Chairman repeated the Community Association Constitution statement that the group is entirely non-political and also confirmed that his role as Chair of the Association is entirely separate from his role as a Parish Councillor.

The Parish Council has been asked about placing a notice announcing Association meetings on the new Parish public notice board on Mill Street.
This has been turned down and we continue to seek an answer in writing from the Parish Clerk as to the reasons.
All organisations that affiliate to the CVP have to be non-political. Our Association constitution states that we are non-political.
CVP will be monitoring the position and will support the Association. An answer from the Parish Clerk will be sought.

Heritage School
There will be action on the school construction soon.
Cllr Anne Western is willing to come and talk about the developments and Donovan Spencer the Head.

Mill Street Old Girls School
(Cllr Paul Hendry left the meeting for this Item as he is on the Licensing Cttee.)
This was originally approved by Panning as a restaurant, crèche and young people activity use- original approval 08/00029.
But part of the ownership has now been sold off and a Licence application has now been submitted to turn it into a place for live music –and late night hours.

Local residents are objecting to this. This is in the Alcohol Exclusion Zone because of past problems in Clowne town centre. There is no sound proofing in the building conversion work appropriate to such a late night music proposal. It is in a Conservation Area so no shutters can be put up. This will be spoken about at the next Parish Council meeting.
The new owner has not put in a change of use application. Whether Planning can agree this as a variation is uncertain.

As individuals, people are asked to write to Bolsover DC if they object.
On the original Planning approval for the building Environmental Health had concerns over odour and noise from the kitchen and restaurant extraction system. So a concern with late night drinking and noise is a legitimate concern from local residents.

It will make the community in the town centre worse not better. Need to write to Environmental Health, Planning, Licence Authority and Police.
A vote was taken and the meeting agreed
The Association will write a letter Objecting to this proposal.

We have received a grant award from Grassroots Grants run by Derbyshire Community Foundation. For Access Group/Clowne in Bloom and main association costs – a total of £1,131.
Cllr Paul Hendry commented that Councillors have grant funds available. An application form is available and needs to be submitted by March.
CVP also have access to database search.
Scrutiny
Bulky waste will start charging for these items(TV fridges etc.) at 3 items for £10.Affects people who don’t have access to cars to take such items to the recycling site at Bolsover- the poorest people in our community have to pay again. Ordinary garden waste stays free. There is concern over fly tipping. Rood Lane fly - tipping, builders rubble left
Council came and looked and not the responsibility of Bolsover Council.
Council person attended this association meeting some time ago and stated that there would never be a charge for green waste collections.
Association to write to Bolsover DC
Reassessment of Rates letter- awaiting a response- Cllr Anne Western taking this to Bolsover Council.
A letter has gone to all residents on the Barlborough Links Estate. Because of Dobbies they have had their rates reduced on average £18 per head. Chair will ask District Councillor.

8.Attendance

There were approx 35 members present Raffle was held and people were thanked for their donations