Community News 2024 12 23

Christmas opening
Everything you need to know about using our services at Christmas and new year is now on our website.

It includes information about our contact centre Call Derbyshire, emergency contacts, school term dates, as well as opening hours for County Hall in Matlock, libraries and household waste recycling centres.

Don't forget you can do a great many things through our website any time of day, all year round.

As this is due to be our last edition before Christmas, we'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Live traffic cameras
Did you know you can view live pictures from traffic cameras that we have across the county?

We've cameras at eight places in Derbyshire, or just outside, and the pictures on our website show the condition of each road. Each picture is updated at least every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

You might find them useful when bad weather hits and you're making decisions about whether to set out on a journey or not.

Canal bridge opens
If you use the Trans Pennine Trail at Staveley you can now use a new bridge to cross Chesterfield Canal.

We supported Chesterfield Canal Trust to construct the new bridge to enable further restoration of the canal. The bridge also creates a fresh link for the national Trans Pennine Trail (TPT).

A group of children from Hollingwood Primary School were the first to ride across the 38m-long bridge after it was formally opened on Friday 6 December.

The bridge is the first phase of a £6 million restoration scheme managed by Chesterfield Canal Trust, with most of the money coming from the Staveley Town Deal – a £25.2 million investment in Staveley through the Government's Towns Fund.

We own and maintain the waterway as part of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, which is working towards restoring the canal and its connection to the national canal network.

Childcare deadline
Are you a working parent with a baby or child aged from nine months up to four?

We're reminding you to check if you're eligible for funded childcare – which means you get help with the costs – and to apply before the end of December.

The application deadline for the January term is Tuesday 31 December.

Find out more, check if you're eligible and apply at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Travellers' sites
Last week Derbyshire Dales District Council took a decision in principle to turn four sites into temporary travellers' sites, subject to planning permission.

We responded to the district council's consultation on their proposals in full with strong objections on highways grounds to all the sites being considered.

In particular one of the sites, the car park at Rowsley, in between Matlock and Bakewell, is conveniently placed for people to access the White Peak Loop, a multi-use trail. It is used by many visitors and local people as a place to park before they enjoy a walk, bike ride or horse ride.

Our consultation response called on Derbyshire Dales to identify both temporary and permanent sites through its review of the Local Plan.