Town leaders secure £500,000 cash boost for Staveley community projects

Residents in Staveley are set to benefit from a range of community improvements after town leaders secured £500,000 as part of wider plans to regenerate the area.

A new state-of-the-art all-weather sports pitch at Springwell Community College, new play equipment for King George V Playing Field and new CCTV equipment for the town centre are among the projects which will benefit from a cash boost.

The proposal to the government’s Accelerator Fund was submitted by Chesterfield Borough Council on behalf of the Staveley Town Deal Board.

This initial money will be used to kick-start improvements ahead of the Board’s submission of the Staveley Town Investment Plan, which is currently being finalised ahead of submission to the government’s Towns Fund. The Plan aims to secure up to £25m to help build a stronger economy for the area.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, Destination Chesterfield board member and managing director of local business MSE Hiller, said: “This initial slug of government funding is great news for the area and signals the start of positive change for Staveley.

“These projects align with the Board’s long-term regeneration plans for Staveley, which we will shortly be setting out for government as part of our ambitious Town Investment Plan.

“Our collective aim is to create new jobs for local people and a stronger and more resilient local economy.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair, said: “Being able to invest in grassroots facilities and projects like these now means we can bring real and immediate improvements that will benefit local people.

“These are positive investments in key facilities which support people’s health and well-being at a time when Staveley, like so many towns up and down the country, is struggling to weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s about doing all we can to help our communities build back stronger for the future.”

The projects which will receive funding are:

• George V Playing Field – to provide play spaces and outdoor gym equipment
• Springwell Community College – installation of a 3G all-weather sports pitch
• Staveley Miners Welfare Football Club – to provide drainage for three pitches as part of the Club’s wider pitch redevelopment project
• Staveley town centre – to upgrade CCTV equipment in the area
• Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) project – to support site development for a new rail training and innovation centre at Barrow Hill Roundhouse

The Staveley Town Deal Board has been established to oversee the development and implementation of a long-term Town Investment Plan for the Staveley area.

It is made up of elected members and senior officers from Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council and Derbyshire County Council, both local members of parliament, representatives from local charitable organisations, Derbyshire Police, education leaders and representatives of the local business community.