News and Developments

The group have obtained access into High Lea Park from 9.00am until 5.00pm, however care needs to be taken to ensure that the barrier post is not put into place before these times, this is only weekdays at the moment.

Report on DDA training day - March 2006

Some items from the minutes of New Mills and District Access Group meetings.

Town Council Disability Equipment Loans Service

Following a decision by the Welfare and Administration Committee of New Mills Town Council, they have suspended their service of loaning disability equipment, pending a review on 17 Oct. The equipment comprises 6 wheelchairs, walking frames and sticks, and commodes. The Access group regard this service as having been of great benefit to local people over the 30 years it has been running and would like to see it continue. Letters have been sent to the Town Council by the Access Group and by individual members protesting at the withdrawal of the service. The Town Council regards the service provided by the Red Cross in Marple as a substitute, but the Access group considers this inconvenient for New Mills people in view of the requirement to travel to pick up equipment and the few hours that the Red Cross is open each week. The Buxton Advertiser has been contacted to look into the concerns of the Access Group and local residents over the potential complete loss of the loans service.

New Mills Access Group 2005 AGM

Reports summarising the work of New Mills and District Access Group over its first year 2004/5 are available on the 2005 AGM page.

Download the minutes of the 2005 AGM   63k

New Mills Town Shuttle 389

This bus is mostly used by older or mobility impaired people and has become a vital link, for example to the Post Office now that there is only one in New Mills. Residents of Ventura Court have stated that it is quite a difficult walk to where the bus stops. The group wrote to Bowers about the route and whether they could pick up and drop off outside Ventura Court itself. A further issue is whether they might start to use small low floor buses instead of the current ones with several high steps which many people find harder to use. Mike Siddon, the general manager from Bowers visited the site to assess it. He explained why he thought it wouldn’t be possible to go to Ventura Court, due to narrow access roads that are often blocked by other vehicles and an insufficient turning circle.

Goytside Meadows Nature Reserve

Having been asked via Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living, Glynn has visited the bridge by Goytside Meadows Nature Reserve with Martin Beddowes of Derbyshire County Council. The bridge is to be made accessible in July, it will make the Reserve more accessible too, but the rest of the area is fairly difficult to get to.

Ollersett Ave and Watburn Road

A letter has been sent to HPBC, NM Town Council and Derbyshire CC about the lack of dropped kerbs at the end of Ollersett Ave and Watburn Road and overgrown hedges in this area. The problem area is just below the junction with Ollersett Rd, on High Hill Rd. The path is halved in width. It is part of the main route from the Highfield Estate, Thornsett School, shops etc., and from Diglands estate to St George’s School and New Mills School. High Peak Borough Coucil say it is not their responsibility. Derbyshire County Council wrote to say that i) the lack of dropped kerbs will be investigated by the Traffic Section and a separate reply will be sent in due course ii) An inspection has been undertaken by the Highways Manager and he advises that the overgrowth will be cut back by the County Council’s Care Teams.

Station Access Audits

Alison Salmen of Hope Access has been very helpful on this matter. They have been trying to sort out how to proceed. There is concern that this could be a massive project, which would take up time and resources for very limited effect for disabled people. It has been very difficult trying to find out exactly what is intended, and who will be involved.