True to their word EBC did provide a formal response to our petition within the seven days. This was followed a day later by a letter inviting members of Green Squeeze to a meeting with the council’s chief executive with a view to hearing our concerns. On Friday the 16th October myself and three other members met with the Jeremy Jaroszek and other officers. During a meeting that lasted just under two hours we did indeed air many of our concerns particularly that EBC councillors were prevented from discussing the Stanton development ahead of any planning application being made. It now seems that this is not the case and that councillors will be receiving revised instruction on this in the near future.
There is no doubt that the meeting was useful and that further meetings will take place every eight weeks or so or if new information becomes available. In summary we came away pleased that communication has at least been established and that there is now a recognised route to air our fears and concerns directly to the council. Hopefully it will also provide a conduit along which will pass the hopes and visions of everyone determined not to squander this once in a lifetime opportunity to see Stanton become a flagship development, not only in Erewash but for the UK as a whole.
I have just logged on to the Erewash Borough Council web site to read the Council minutes about what happened when Greensqueeze handed in the "petition" at the Council meeting on 24th September and it says that you would receive a response from the Director of Regulatory Services, Sue Blakeley within 7 days. Just wondered if you had received anything from her yet??
Just returned from Glastonbury and shared with a number of people (about100) the Greensqueeze leaflet and let good folks know what is happening in other parts of the countryside (our part).
It is a very mixed church that camp out in the sun and the rain for 4 days listening to v. loud music. Call it sheer daftness but it is wonderful to be with very different people and yet share some similar views about peace, the environment and doing the right thing by others. What struck me was the receptiveness of people to listen to our campaign. Mostly people were shocked and shared a willingness to vote to the poll. What I realised is that whilst Glastonbury festival is not everyones cup of tea we all do enjoy something where like minded people come together. Like on holidays, fishing trips etc. Its not easy just going up to a stranger but then non of this work is easy is it...So much hard work is going into this campaign and it is incredibley inspiring to feel the commitment to protect our countryside. ..what ever is your thing, with your people share the leaflet or print off the window poster and give it to people that enjoy your cup of tea too even if its a stranger. Its surprising how much other people care... if you do!
I recently relocated to beautiful Derbyshire from the ugliness of a concrete jungle that was west Essex/E.London. I came here for peace after a traumatic life, I came here to spend my remaining years in a beautiful unspoilt countryside. But what do I find? my adopted county is being ruined. Already my home, in Smalley, which looks out over fields, the view being a big reason for my purchasing the house, is blighted by the fields being turned into a massive open cast mine! destroying the local environment and for what?
Next, a beautiful spot I have come to love, by the crooked tree in No Mans Lane, is in danger of being destroyed too!
How can you preach about 'green' issues and then create this devastation and pollution? What bloody hypocrites you all are.
Money is what is talking here, not caring for the environment.
Green issues only matter when you can use them as an excuse to make us pay more taxes in the name of protecting the environment!
Wrong! If we didnt take all the waifs and strays in from the rest of Europe and the world, we wouldnt have this need for so much new housing! Why don't you tackle the issue at grass roots?
There are many brown field sites in towns and cities around here, plenty of derelect factories, housing and wasteland, already eyesores, which could be utilised for regeneration without taking the very fresh air we breath!
It's shameful and I am deeply upset that we, the people who pay your wages, seem to have no voice in all of this!
From Crooked Tree
Sadly, I can tell you that this planning application was approved this time last year by Erewash Borough Council. I have opposed every planning application for the last ten years that has impacted negatively on my local community of Sandiacre, most of these have been for developemnts on the former Stanton site, and have involved increases in HGV traffic. Having spoken at many Council planning meetings, and written many letters to the Council over the years, even I was shocked at the manner with which the Council dealt with this application. Every single one of the Councillors voted to support the application, even the Sandiacre Councillor who sits on the committee. The only 5 councillors who spoke at the meeting were all either present or former Stanton/railway employees, who waffled about what fun it was to work for them 30 years ago. Not a single one of the others asked a question of the applicants, although I could have asked a hundred, but of course the public aren't allowed to ask questions, so there was no effective challenge to the propagnda contained in the applicants and the officers supporting documents. Crucial to the success of the application was the masking of the increase in HGV numbers through Sandiacre. The applicant stated that the levels of HGV movements would be less than at present as the HGVs currently clearing the Old Stanton Tip would soon be finished, and the additional movements would be less than that. The highways authority, Derbyshire County Council, in a far more closer scutiny of the applicants submissions, stated that "it is reiterated that the HGVs associated with the removal of the Old Stanton Tip are working under a temporary contract therefore use of these vehicles to offset the impact of additional HGVs is inappropriate". Guess what, that comment never made it into the Borough Officers Report to the committee, and neither did the other non supportive comments made by DCC. In contrast, read the officers report for the Stanton Bonna application for the same facility at Toton Sidings, submitted one year earlier. That officers report subjected the application to far more scrutiny, and measured it against the same local and national policies, and local impacts. Although only 2 miles apart, it concluded the opposite, and that was unanimously supported by the Council. The whole process has been utterly inexplicable, since apart from Lows Lane, the same routes and volumes applied. Having voted for the increase in HGVs from Stanton Bonna, the Council has now voted against the next Lafarge (Toton Sidings) works increase in HGVs, currently being considered by Notts County Council (5/01/00091/CMM) from 70 movements per day to 230 per day, on the same roads. This 300 % increase is considered by the applicants to be "imperceptible" but as Erewash voted last year to increase HGVs through Sandiacre the chances are that oppostion to the Lafarge application now bears no substance with Notts CC. My advice to anyone dealing with planners at Erewash is trust no-one, not even your own councillor, examine and challenge all their statements and reports, for they will sell their own communities down the road without shame in support of their colleagues in the development industry.
Just got round to checking out the pictures...You girls are quite something aren't you! You must be very pleased convincing people of Stanton and Dale that you are doing a super long walk when infact you are out picking up blokes from far flung places: telling folks you were doing some charity walk its so plausable we all fell for it. I hope your fellas never find out...mmmh and you you all donated over £900! Don't worry I won't snitch Seriously well done and thank you! Anj
After witnessing 'development' for the last 50 years of the places I have known, in particular the Erewash area, my home for some 40 years, it really is time to call a halt to the headlong rush to destruction of green spaces. Most political parties are overly concerned with 'growth' as a necessity for economic development at the expense of those areas most people would consider inviolate. Do we not have enough people, roads, cars, lorries, industrial and housing estates? Will 'developers' not be satisfied until every scrap of green land has been built on and ruined forever? I do not want to have to go to a purpose built 'country park' to walk or see a 'bit of green' in my latter years. WE All want a high 'quality of life' for ourselves and our children (even grandchildren), but green land is just as much a finite resorce as is gas, oil and other raw materials. If we want to share and enjoy this land with nature as intended along with the quality of life we enjoy now the pressure for economic development has to stop and we, as human beings, must realise that continual population growth can no longer expand, but must be balanced so as not to to over-exploit non- renewable resorces. Stop, and take stock now! If we don't - sooner or later - when the resorces have gone and we are starving in poverty in our concrete and tarmaced paradise - anarchy will prevail just as sure as the credit chrunch is a reality for many. Martin Holroyd
I find it strange that no one has considered the additional impact of this Development
.
ERE/0308/0035 - Stanton Ironworks, Stanton by Dale
"To consider an application for the erection of a class B2 factory building and associated ancillary offices, access and car parking, raw materials storage area and batching plant, ground works, lighting and landscaping. The formation of a rail connection, rail sidings, gantry cranes and storage areas for new and used concrete sleepers and the recycling of sleepers at Stanton Ironworks Old Tip, Lows Lane."
this proposes an additional 66 lorries A DAY through Sandiacre to supply the raw materials for the production of the sleepers, as well as the workers travelling to and from site. Add that to the two cars per household for the proposed housing development that we all know will commute via Sandiacre to get to the M1 / A52 junction, and quite frankly , if like me you live on the route through, you may as well reach for the mess webley now.
"Are there any proposals to increase capacity on these routes to ease the increased congestion which will result in the development? Somehow, I doubt it."
I have lived in Sandiacre all my life, I now live on the route through to Ilkeston & Stanton and I dont want the roads adapting to take more traffic thank you. At peak travel times its gridlocked and when the traffic has thinned out you get the speeders who see the bends from Town street to JTD auto's as their personal race track, and this includes the lorry drivers. Theres no way Sandiacre can take any more traffic and there is no room the widen the roads.
I went to a Sandiacre Parish meeting about 2 years ago when Spring were there giving their speil. We werent allowed to ask them questions but collared them in the car park where they were prepared to answer questions (as good PR people). We pointed out to them the problem with access and increased traffic , to which their reply was (paraphrased)
" Its not up to us to sort that out. We just build it, the government / council has to sort out the road situation"
in other words 'not our problem' . Spring may no longer be involved but I doubt the attitude will change who ever is involved.
Why did they have to close the ironworks in the first place? Mainly so they could use their plant in France and ship it over here! no regard to jobs lost here as long as they protect French jobs. I know many people that knew they would be out of work as soon as St Gobain took over.
Keep the steelworks - they will always be needed. Turn other parts into a good park - similar to Shipley. We could also do with a decent industrial museum to celebrate the history of the area. Erewash museum ok - but too small. COuld have large outdoor exhibits for the kids to play on and see as well as displays inside!
There is still a huge air raid shelter in Stanton as well, this could become part of the museum!
Super girls, we follow your campaign, it's a great thing to do. Well done Diane Flanagan, we are proud of you!
Brigitte Pluess and family fans from Switzerland
Be under no illusions, Saint Gobain are massive, they are the biggest building wares company in the world, and the economic climate will have no bearing on their decision to develop the site, they will happily sit on the site for as long as they need to in order to get their own way, and the cost of them building the properties will be minimal, as they own enough companies to source everything from in-house, also, if they leave it long enough, the site will look derelict, it will be an eye sore, and people will then encourage the development.
What needs to happen is not a complete NO to the whole re-generation/re-development of the site, the site should be developed with jobs in mind, linking up with Quarry Hill Industrial Estate, and possibly a percentage of homes, but the new road should be avoided and campaigned against at all costs !
There is no saying that all the residents would all at one time head straight for the M1, some might work in Derby so require the A52, some in Long Eaton, Ilkeston, Beeston etc. Current routes should be improved and expanded where possible to allow for any additional traffic, with minimal effect on residents and greenbelt land.
We really loved meeting Carol in Cyprus and she was so enthusiastic about the walk, so well done to you all in suceeding the Limestone Way! Shame she only had one spare pair of Knickers!!!! Good Luck to you all!
Hope you managed to finish your hike before nightfall. We had a great weekend despite nearly being shot by a farmer for trespassing on private land and missing our train home on Sunday from Matlock station, so of course we had to while away 90 minutes in a wine bar waiting for the next train.......shame.
Don't forget your promise Pete to hit the site from every country you stop at on your way home. Safe journey.
Support our campaign.......reguarly hit the site to see how we are doing.
Best Regards
Carol
We (the three guys in picture 16) really enjoyed meeting you despite your mickey taking of our slow progress up the steps. Well done on the walk and good luck with the campaign. Al Harrison. Stuart Mac Manus and Pete Webb (from Australia).
True to their word EBC did provide a formal response to our petition within the seven days. This was followed a day later by a letter inviting members of Green Squeeze to a meeting with the council’s chief executive with a view to hearing our concerns. On Friday the 16th October myself and three other members met with the Jeremy Jaroszek and other officers. During a meeting that lasted just under two hours we did indeed air many of our concerns particularly that EBC councillors were prevented from discussing the Stanton development ahead of any planning application being made. It now seems that this is not the case and that councillors will be receiving revised instruction on this in the near future.
There is no doubt that the meeting was useful and that further meetings will take place every eight weeks or so or if new information becomes available. In summary we came away pleased that communication has at least been established and that there is now a recognised route to air our fears and concerns directly to the council. Hopefully it will also provide a conduit along which will pass the hopes and visions of everyone determined not to squander this once in a lifetime opportunity to see Stanton become a flagship development, not only in Erewash but for the UK as a whole.
I have just logged on to the Erewash Borough Council web site to read the Council minutes about what happened when Greensqueeze handed in the "petition" at the Council meeting on 24th September and it says that you would receive a response from the Director of Regulatory Services, Sue Blakeley within 7 days. Just wondered if you had received anything from her yet??
Totally agree - I have talked to loads of people about this & everyone agrees it is a crazy idea
Just returned from Glastonbury and shared with a number of people (about100) the Greensqueeze leaflet and let good folks know what is happening in other parts of the countryside (our part).
It is a very mixed church that camp out in the sun and the rain for 4 days listening to v. loud music. Call it sheer daftness but it is wonderful to be with very different people and yet share some similar views about peace, the environment and doing the right thing by others. What struck me was the receptiveness of people to listen to our campaign. Mostly people were shocked and shared a willingness to vote to the poll. What I realised is that whilst Glastonbury festival is not everyones cup of tea we all do enjoy something where like minded people come together. Like on holidays, fishing trips etc. Its not easy just going up to a stranger but then non of this work is easy is it...So much hard work is going into this campaign and it is incredibley inspiring to feel the commitment to protect our countryside. ..what ever is your thing, with your people share the leaflet or print off the window poster and give it to people that enjoy your cup of tea too even if its a stranger. Its surprising how much other people care... if you do!
I recently relocated to beautiful Derbyshire from the ugliness of a concrete jungle that was west Essex/E.London. I came here for peace after a traumatic life, I came here to spend my remaining years in a beautiful unspoilt countryside. But what do I find? my adopted county is being ruined. Already my home, in Smalley, which looks out over fields, the view being a big reason for my purchasing the house, is blighted by the fields being turned into a massive open cast mine! destroying the local environment and for what?
Next, a beautiful spot I have come to love, by the crooked tree in No Mans Lane, is in danger of being destroyed too!
How can you preach about 'green' issues and then create this devastation and pollution? What bloody hypocrites you all are.
Money is what is talking here, not caring for the environment.
Green issues only matter when you can use them as an excuse to make us pay more taxes in the name of protecting the environment!
Wrong! If we didnt take all the waifs and strays in from the rest of Europe and the world, we wouldnt have this need for so much new housing! Why don't you tackle the issue at grass roots?
There are many brown field sites in towns and cities around here, plenty of derelect factories, housing and wasteland, already eyesores, which could be utilised for regeneration without taking the very fresh air we breath!
It's shameful and I am deeply upset that we, the people who pay your wages, seem to have no voice in all of this!
From Crooked Tree
Sadly, I can tell you that this planning application was approved this time last year by Erewash Borough Council. I have opposed every planning application for the last ten years that has impacted negatively on my local community of Sandiacre, most of these have been for developemnts on the former Stanton site, and have involved increases in HGV traffic. Having spoken at many Council planning meetings, and written many letters to the Council over the years, even I was shocked at the manner with which the Council dealt with this application. Every single one of the Councillors voted to support the application, even the Sandiacre Councillor who sits on the committee. The only 5 councillors who spoke at the meeting were all either present or former Stanton/railway employees, who waffled about what fun it was to work for them 30 years ago. Not a single one of the others asked a question of the applicants, although I could have asked a hundred, but of course the public aren't allowed to ask questions, so there was no effective challenge to the propagnda contained in the applicants and the officers supporting documents. Crucial to the success of the application was the masking of the increase in HGV numbers through Sandiacre. The applicant stated that the levels of HGV movements would be less than at present as the HGVs currently clearing the Old Stanton Tip would soon be finished, and the additional movements would be less than that. The highways authority, Derbyshire County Council, in a far more closer scutiny of the applicants submissions, stated that "it is reiterated that the HGVs associated with the removal of the Old Stanton Tip are working under a temporary contract therefore use of these vehicles to offset the impact of additional HGVs is inappropriate". Guess what, that comment never made it into the Borough Officers Report to the committee, and neither did the other non supportive comments made by DCC. In contrast, read the officers report for the Stanton Bonna application for the same facility at Toton Sidings, submitted one year earlier. That officers report subjected the application to far more scrutiny, and measured it against the same local and national policies, and local impacts. Although only 2 miles apart, it concluded the opposite, and that was unanimously supported by the Council. The whole process has been utterly inexplicable, since apart from Lows Lane, the same routes and volumes applied. Having voted for the increase in HGVs from Stanton Bonna, the Council has now voted against the next Lafarge (Toton Sidings) works increase in HGVs, currently being considered by Notts County Council (5/01/00091/CMM) from 70 movements per day to 230 per day, on the same roads. This 300 % increase is considered by the applicants to be "imperceptible" but as Erewash voted last year to increase HGVs through Sandiacre the chances are that oppostion to the Lafarge application now bears no substance with Notts CC. My advice to anyone dealing with planners at Erewash is trust no-one, not even your own councillor, examine and challenge all their statements and reports, for they will sell their own communities down the road without shame in support of their colleagues in the development industry.
Just got round to checking out the pictures...You girls are quite something aren't you! You must be very pleased convincing people of Stanton and Dale that you are doing a super long walk when infact you are out picking up blokes from far flung places: telling folks you were doing some charity walk its so plausable we all fell for it. I hope your fellas never find out...mmmh and you you all donated over £900! Don't worry I won't snitch Seriously well done and thank you! Anj
After witnessing 'development' for the last 50 years of the places I have known, in particular the Erewash area, my home for some 40 years, it really is time to call a halt to the headlong rush to destruction of green spaces. Most political parties are overly concerned with 'growth' as a necessity for economic development at the expense of those areas most people would consider inviolate. Do we not have enough people, roads, cars, lorries, industrial and housing estates? Will 'developers' not be satisfied until every scrap of green land has been built on and ruined forever? I do not want to have to go to a purpose built 'country park' to walk or see a 'bit of green' in my latter years. WE All want a high 'quality of life' for ourselves and our children (even grandchildren), but green land is just as much a finite resorce as is gas, oil and other raw materials. If we want to share and enjoy this land with nature as intended along with the quality of life we enjoy now the pressure for economic development has to stop and we, as human beings, must realise that continual population growth can no longer expand, but must be balanced so as not to to over-exploit non- renewable resorces. Stop, and take stock now! If we don't - sooner or later - when the resorces have gone and we are starving in poverty in our concrete and tarmaced paradise - anarchy will prevail just as sure as the credit chrunch is a reality for many. Martin Holroyd
I find it strange that no one has considered the additional impact of this Development
.
ERE/0308/0035 - Stanton Ironworks, Stanton by Dale
"To consider an application for the erection of a class B2 factory building and associated ancillary offices, access and car parking, raw materials storage area and batching plant, ground works, lighting and landscaping. The formation of a rail connection, rail sidings, gantry cranes and storage areas for new and used concrete sleepers and the recycling of sleepers at Stanton Ironworks Old Tip, Lows Lane."
http://www2.erewash.gov.uk/moderngov/(S(u11xgc555vwo0y45ayrpba45))/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=106&MId=387&Ver=4
this proposes an additional 66 lorries A DAY through Sandiacre to supply the raw materials for the production of the sleepers, as well as the workers travelling to and from site. Add that to the two cars per household for the proposed housing development that we all know will commute via Sandiacre to get to the M1 / A52 junction, and quite frankly , if like me you live on the route through, you may as well reach for the mess webley now.
In reply to Dans comment,
"Are there any proposals to increase capacity on these routes to ease the increased congestion which will result in the development? Somehow, I doubt it."
I have lived in Sandiacre all my life, I now live on the route through to Ilkeston & Stanton and I dont want the roads adapting to take more traffic thank you. At peak travel times its gridlocked and when the traffic has thinned out you get the speeders who see the bends from Town street to JTD auto's as their personal race track, and this includes the lorry drivers. Theres no way Sandiacre can take any more traffic and there is no room the widen the roads.
I went to a Sandiacre Parish meeting about 2 years ago when Spring were there giving their speil. We werent allowed to ask them questions but collared them in the car park where they were prepared to answer questions (as good PR people). We pointed out to them the problem with access and increased traffic , to which their reply was (paraphrased)
" Its not up to us to sort that out. We just build it, the government / council has to sort out the road situation"
in other words 'not our problem' . Spring may no longer be involved but I doubt the attitude will change who ever is involved.
Why did they have to close the ironworks in the first place? Mainly so they could use their plant in France and ship it over here! no regard to jobs lost here as long as they protect French jobs. I know many people that knew they would be out of work as soon as St Gobain took over.
Keep the steelworks - they will always be needed. Turn other parts into a good park - similar to Shipley. We could also do with a decent industrial museum to celebrate the history of the area. Erewash museum ok - but too small. COuld have large outdoor exhibits for the kids to play on and see as well as displays inside!
There is still a huge air raid shelter in Stanton as well, this could become part of the museum!
Super girls, we follow your campaign, it's a great thing to do. Well done Diane Flanagan, we are proud of you!
Brigitte Pluess and family fans from Switzerland
Be under no illusions, Saint Gobain are massive, they are the biggest building wares company in the world, and the economic climate will have no bearing on their decision to develop the site, they will happily sit on the site for as long as they need to in order to get their own way, and the cost of them building the properties will be minimal, as they own enough companies to source everything from in-house, also, if they leave it long enough, the site will look derelict, it will be an eye sore, and people will then encourage the development.
What needs to happen is not a complete NO to the whole re-generation/re-development of the site, the site should be developed with jobs in mind, linking up with Quarry Hill Industrial Estate, and possibly a percentage of homes, but the new road should be avoided and campaigned against at all costs !
There is no saying that all the residents would all at one time head straight for the M1, some might work in Derby so require the A52, some in Long Eaton, Ilkeston, Beeston etc. Current routes should be improved and expanded where possible to allow for any additional traffic, with minimal effect on residents and greenbelt land.
well done girls if i knew it was a pub crawl i might have joined you :)
We really loved meeting Carol in Cyprus and she was so enthusiastic about the walk, so well done to you all in suceeding the Limestone Way! Shame she only had one spare pair of Knickers!!!! Good Luck to you all!
Lots of love
Dave & Caryl XXXX
Hi you three,
Hope you managed to finish your hike before nightfall. We had a great weekend despite nearly being shot by a farmer for trespassing on private land and missing our train home on Sunday from Matlock station, so of course we had to while away 90 minutes in a wine bar waiting for the next train.......shame.
Don't forget your promise Pete to hit the site from every country you stop at on your way home. Safe journey.
Support our campaign.......reguarly hit the site to see how we are doing.
Best Regards
Carol
Great to meet you three too. Thank you for the support. Carry on hiking!
Di
Well done to the Stanton-by-Dale gals and bringing a bit of glamour to the countryside. Gerard
hi guys - thanks so much for taking the time to reply to us
We all enjoyed our 'limestone walk' - this time last week, we were just about to start - better than being at work!!!
hope to do the second half next year.
hope you all had a good weekend together and not too many sore heads!
Eileen
A good walk for a good cause!
Congrats, you should set up a facebook page as well to spread the word!
Nat xx
We (the three guys in picture 16) really enjoyed meeting you despite your mickey taking of our slow progress up the steps. Well done on the walk and good luck with the campaign. Al Harrison. Stuart Mac Manus and Pete Webb (from Australia).
Well done,
Excellent fitness standard from you girls.
Utrinque Paratus.
To the girls,
Fantastic job for a very good cause. Well done to all of you.
Laura x
oh hannah just read your comments - how cool are we !!!
Congrats ladies, some fab photos! Looks like you had lots of fun as well as lots of walking! xx Esther