Author: Dom Stevens

Support for market traders from Chesterfield Borough Council

7th May 2020

The indoor and outdoor markets are an important part of Chesterfield’s heritage and at this challenging time, there are a number of traders who are continuing to provide essential services to local residents.

Chesterfield Borough Council has ensured that these traders can continue to trade and has provided guidance on social distancing in order to help them comply with current restrictions and health and safety requirements.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are working very hard to ensure that market traders and retailers in the town centre receive the support they need to trade safely. For over eight hundred years the market has been part of the fabric of the town and it is heartening that in this hour of need, traders are still there offering food and other permitted goods to local residents.”

Council staff are also ensuring that only one member of the public enters the market hall at any one time in order to maintain social distancing.

Traders on the open market who are continuing to trade are not being charged rent for their stalls and anyone who is not trading but plans to resume will not be charged back-rent when they stand next time.

Rent for the Market Hall traders has been deferred and they will not be charged interest on this. The council is also working closely with traders to highlight the various support programmes available to them. If any traders would like advice on these, please contact the council by calling 01246 345345.

Once restrictions on trading have been lifted, we will be working with traders to re-ignite our shop local campaign and to promote the town centre and its fantastic retail offer. Our ambitious multi-million pound ‘Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’ project will also continue to improve and support our town centre offer. The next stage of the project will include working with the town centre’s stakeholders and bringing forward design and infrastructure options, with the aim of work commencing later in the year.

You can keep up to date with the latest news from the market including trading times by visiting the Chesterfield Market Traders Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmarkettraders

chesterfield-market place

Optician supports Chesterfield Royal Hospital with hamper donation

6th May 2020

An appeal from the team at Specsavers Chesterfield has seen the store’s friends, neighbours, family and customers join forces to donate a range of essential items for Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The store’s Optometrist Director, Allissa Charlesworth, launched the campaign earlier in April following an appeal from the hospital for patient toiletries, supplies of which were running low as a result of the lockdown visitor ban.

Within a few days of launching the appeal, donations from the town’s residents flooded in, resulting in over 35 kilograms of items, from toothpastes to shampoos, collected for the hospital.

Allissa comments: ‘After seeing the request from the hospital for toiletries, we felt compelled to help, where we can, and support our local NHS staff and patients in which ever way we could.

‘It must be extremely difficult for patients who can’t have visits from family members, both emotionally, but also practically, in getting hold of the personal care products they might need.

‘I’ve been totally blown away with the community spirit in Chesterfield, and I’m extremely thankful to those who have donated products and money to the cause. I’m sure the donations will have a tangible impact locally, for those who need it most.’

Allissa concludes: ‘We would like the community to know that although we have suspended all routine eye and hearing tests, we are still very much open to assist with any eye health or vision related problems. Many can be resolved without needing to visit the store as we’ve launched RemoteCare, which sees our optometrists on hand for video call and telephone consultations. It’s vital that people feel like they’re able to discuss their concerns and that anyone with an eye problem is able to access the care they require.’

The donation also collected just under £100 in cash which will be donated to the patient welfare charity at the hospital.

Following the Coronavirus outbreak, staff at the Chesterfield store have been out in the community delivering glasses to residents who are self isolating, whilst also keeping the shop open for emergencies such as the needs of Key Workers.

Specsavers’ teams are classed as key workers to provide urgent and essential eye care to those who need it. That includes supporting other key workers who couldn’t function without their help and people who would come to harm without their health expertise, especially where the usual hospital services and NHS facilities are being prioritised for the fight against COVID-19.

As well as RemoteCare, anyone concerned about their eye and hearing health can access care through a variety of ways, including ‘Specsavers Ask the Expert’ public group on Facebook and the Specsavers website care hub. Customers who have an existing prescription can buy glasses and contact lenses online at specsavers.co.uk

For more information about the RemoteCare service visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/online-consultation-service

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Home

Vicar Lane helps to raise over £500 for NHS Trusts through The Great British NHS Quiz

6th May 2020

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, Chesterfield, has so far raised over £500 for NHS Trusts, by inviting would-be eggheads to take part in The Great British NHS Quiz.

People in Chesterfield can join those from all over the UK to enter the 60-question online multiple-choice quiz by making a small donation to their local NHS. Points from each region will be tallied and entered into a leader board and the five highest scorers from each region will then go head-to-head in a fun live final to see which region is the smartest.

Contestants will be quizzed on sport, music, films, geography, history and general knowledge via Facebook messenger.

Those wishing to take part in the quiz can simply visit www.thegreatbritishnhsquiz.com.The fundraising campaign, launched by the popular shopping centre on 25^th April, has been enabled by a range of collaborators including social media engagement platform Maybe*, fundraising platform Give as you Live and a new High Streets Rewards service. The quiz aims to raise as much money as possible to show our collective support for the NHS while also lifting the nation’s spirits. The funds raised will go to NHS Charities Together.

Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO, Maybe* said, “Now more than ever communities are looking for ways to rally around their local NHS services from their own homes. It struck us that since we are in lockdown for a while longer, a national quiz could be a great, entertaining way of bringing people together. By introducing some friendly competition between regions, we believe we can help raise our collective spirits and funds for the NHS and help keep the nation entertained.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Former Chesterfield Register Office to be sold

6th May 2020

The former Chesterfield Register Office has been sold for an undisclosed fee.

A meeting on Friday 17th April 2020 agreed the sale of the former register office and a two-storey house on the site. The three-storey former registry building sits next to the 45-space Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, opposite Tesco Metro and close to the Portland Hotel. It was built in the 1940s and used for four decades by residents registering births, marriages and deaths.

Derbyshire County Council said: “In principle and subject to planning permission, the site is suitable for a range of uses including residential, commercial office, community uses, healthcare or other institutional uses.”

“The site is not in the primary retail area or an otherwise established retail frontage, but could be suitable for retail or food and drink use of an appropriately limited scale.”

“We are advised that Chesterfield Borough Council’s preference would be for conversion and re-use of the existing buildings.”

In 2018, Chesterfield Register Office moved from New Beetwell Street into Chesterfield Town Hall and in November 2018, it welcomed the first families to register the births of their babies.

The new venue offers improved facilities for those who use the Register Office, and will offer a greater choice of rooms for weddings and civil partnerships. The new office is also much larger and includes separate waiting areas for people who are registering a birth to those who are registering a death.

Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:“The register office has been in New Beetwell Street for over 40 years but wasn’t giving us the opportunity to offer the sort of services we want to.”

She also added that the new office in the town hall “will be a much better place to visit to register a birth or death, celebrate getting married or a civil partnership.”

The new register office also gives more space for the historic registers containing entries of all the births, deaths and marriages in Derbyshire since 1837.

Image credit: Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home

Mural celebrates NHS and key workers

5th May 2020

A mural to celebrate the work of the NHS and key workers during the coronavirus outbreak has been commissioned by a Chesterfield pub.

The team at the Spotted Frog, which is in Brampton, has worked with local artist, Pete Barber to create a colourful rainbow mural to thank everyone, who is supporting the community.

Co-owners & Directors, Trevor & Nicky said “As part of the wider community, we really wanted to do something to show our support and appreciation, but were unsure as to what, We had discussed, having some sort of mural on the wall previously, then it clicked. How fitting, appropriate, lasting and rather large this would, be.”

The Spotted Frog and The Butchers Arms in Brimington are asking people, who like the mural and their situation allows, to donate £1 to NHS Charities Together at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-support-the-nhs-key-workers.

The Spotted Frog has donated £250, which will be matched by with a further £250 from the Butchers Arms.

The campaign and mural were created with support from Pete Barber, Helen Rowan Photography and Just Cars Chesterfield.

For ideas for supporting local businesses during the coronavirus outbreak, visit the Destination Chesterfield Supporting Local Page.

For details of support available for businesses during the coronavirus outbreak visit the Destination Chesterfield Coronavirus Business Support Page.

Images: Helen Rowan Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Sister company of Chesterfield Waterside developers signs £150 million regeneration deal

5th May 2020

The sister company of Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group Plc, the company delivering the Chesterfield Waterside project, Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, has signed a major £150 million funding deal with Legal & General.

The deal will bring forward the first phase of a Sheffield city centre mixed-use regeneration scheme – West Bar Square, which will deliver large footprint, modern office space, currently lacking within Sheffield’s property market. Once complete it will accommodate up to 1,800 workers, along with residential accommodation and car parking.

Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group Plc and Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, commented: “The world as a whole is in unchartered territory at the moment and these are deeply concerning times for everyone. However, the funding deal with Legal & General and the progress we are making with the office accommodation at Chesterfield Waterside are very much positive signs for the UK’s economy.”

“Although the country is currently in lockdown, investors are already starting to look beyond this, which points to an economic recovery sooner rather than later.”

The £150 million West Bar Square phase 1 scheme comprises 200,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space, circa 350 ‘Build To Rent’ homes, a multi-storey car park and high quality landscaped public spaces.

Peter Swallow added: “ The funding partnership we have agreed with Legal & General will guarantee delivery of large scale regeneration in this important part of the city, linking the rapidly expanding Kelham Island district to the city centre.”

As well as West Bar Square, Bolsterstone’s £300million Chesterfield Waterside scheme continues to move forward apace. Avant Homes has begun construction of 177 new houses in the Waterside Quarter of the scheme, which already have a number of sales reservations, and the company is in advanced talks with occupiers for the majority of the space in the seven-storey office block planned for the Basin Square neighbourhood, which is due to start on site in the summer.

Click here to find out more about Chesterfield Waterside and what it means for the area

Posted in Business, Development

University supplies iPads to keep hospital inpatients in touch with families

5th May 2020

The University of Derby has supplied iPads to help patients being treated in hospital during the coronavirus pandemic to keep in touch with their families while in hospital.

A total of 25 iPads have been delivered to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, all of which can be used by patients who are not able to see their loved ones while on the wards.

The hospital’s ICT and infrastructure team will configure the donated devices so that patients can connect to relatives using a variety of apps, including Facetime, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Ian Hazel, Director of IT and Infrastructure at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “Being in hospital can be difficult for people at the best of times and not having the comfort of regular visitors can be very isolating. Wherever possible we’ve tried to keep our patients in touch with their loved ones and, thanks to the technology available, we have ways of being able to do that.

“We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with donations from across the county and, thanks to the close working relationship we have with the University of Derby, our patients will truly benefit from this fantastic gesture. The wellbeing of our patients is an important part of their recovery and we’d like to thank everyone at the university for their continued support and for helping our patients in this way.

Last month, the University donated thousands of items of personal protective equipment to Chesterfield Royal, as well as to the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB).

The University is also working with specialist manufacturing companies to provide protective visors for hospital staff at UHDB.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The necessary isolation of COVID-19 patients and restrictions on all inpatient visiting puts an added strain on their families because their relatives are unable to visit in person.

“Using iPads to enable virtual visiting and maintain contact is important for the mental health and emotional resilience of patients and their families, at what is probably one of the most challenging times of their lives.

“To be able to offer whatever resources we can to help in the effort to combat COVID-19, whether it is our students supporting key workers on the frontline in our hospitals, donating and manufacturing personal protective equipment or finding ways of connecting families, we must and will continue to play our part as a civically-engaged university.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

DBCP helps fund and distribute PPE visors for healthcare workers in Chesterfield

4th May 2020

Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP) is one of a number of businesses paying for the materials for 20,000 masks which are then donated free of charge to frontline NHS staff, GP surgeries, First Responders, care homes and hospices.

Ashgate Hospicecare, Whittington Moor Surgery and Lime Tree House in New Whittington are just three of the healthcare settings that are benefitting from visors that are being made by an army of volunteers from animal charity Broken Souls Rescue.

The masks are the brainchild of Stephen Greaves, a volunteer at Broken Souls Rescue and owner of SG Design Studio Architectural Services based in Swadlincote. He was inspired to produce the masks after talking to Simeon Cornes, a building inspector at DBCP who revealed how his wife, who is a nurse, desperately needed PPE in her workplace.

Stephen used his office’s 3D printer which is more used to printing architectural designs, to create an initial batch of 200 visors. Word spread and now, with an army of volunteers and funding from businesses for materials, Stephen is hoping to make and supply more than 20,000 masks.

Stephen said: “Fundraising during lockdown is particularly difficult so the opportunity to both support the national pandemic effort locally and raise money for the charity is something I am delighted to be able to do.”

“We are relying on donations to enable us to purchase the material used to make the visors. Other than this, all time, cutting and expenses is given from volunteers. Without these volunteers, this would not be possible.”

As well as providing funding for materials and production costs, the team at DBCP is also helping distribute the visors. Hundreds have already been gratefully received by healthcare settings in and around Chesterfield.

Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, thanked DBCP for the donation, saying: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our community and local businesses like DBCP who have donated essential PPE supplies to the hospice. The equipment not only keeps our patients and staff safe but also enables loved ones to spend precious time together when it matters most. For that we cannot thank everyone involved enough.”

Val Johnson, Practice Manager at Whittington Moor Surgery, commented: “They are much appreciated and useful to protect staff against COVID.”

Karen Mitchell at Lime Tree House added: “It is reassuring to know there is community spirit at these difficult times. The donation has gratefully received by us all at Limetree House.”

Neil Johnson, Managing Director of DBCP said: “These are unprecedented and trying times for everyone and I am delighted that we have been able to make both a practical and financial contribution to the COVID-19 effort.”

“The DBCP team were only too happy to help deliver the masks. Being able to get involved in some small way with both the Broken Souls Rescue charity and the local COVID effort has lifted spirits across the company.”

Broken Souls Rescue works nationally to re-home and rehabilitate dogs and cats in need. To donate to Broken Souls Rescue, please visit www.broken-souls-rescue.org/donate.html

Click here to find out more about Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Celebrate VE Day with Chesterfield Museum

4th May 2020

Chesterfield Borough Council had planned a wide range of events to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, however due to the coronavirus outbreak these have had to be cancelled. But the council is still working hard to commemorate this important occasion and highlight ways that local residents can get involved.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy and our Armed Forces Champion, said: “The VE Day celebrations planned for Chesterfield would have been truly special, underpinned by our fantastic events programme. Given the ongoing crisis we are encouraging residents to find that blitz spirit and come up with unique ways to commemorate and remember this day at home. For a lot of veterans this is a chance to reflect on their service, and for us to remember and thank them for the sacrifices they and our communities made.”

In the build up to VE Day the council will be holding a countdown across its social media pages to support everyone to get involved and to share some of the great ways that Chesterfield’s residents will be helping the town and borough to commemorate VE Day.

The Council’s Museum event was originally planned by a group called History’s Maid, who were going to be putting on live performances at the Museum; however, they have now produced a series of videos that cover the final months of the war from the perspective of a British soldier. These performances will help people connect with the past and provide important historical insight. They will be released every day at 11am on the Museum’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmuseum/

The Museum has also created a special resource centre that includes activities for the whole family. This includes World War Two themed baking, quizzes and craft activities. You can access these on the museum website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/explore-chesterfield/museum/whats-on/ve-day.aspx.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield technology company recreate The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park for 169th anniversary.

4th May 2020

Seymour & Lerhn, an educational service delivered by Chesterfield technology company Oasis Studio, have recreated the Crystal Palace of The Great Exhibition of 1851 as a 3D virtual tour for Royal Parks, to mark the events 169th anniversary.

The Great Exhibition was an event to try and bring everyone together, and whilst also taking the chance to show off just how great Britain was, Prince Albert organised what would come to be known as the first World’s Fair. He invited countries from around the world to exhibit, to encourage commerce and establish British superiority.

The Crystal Palace that had been built in Hyde Park was demolished and relocated to an area of South London, that now bears its name, in 1854. You can still see the footprint of the original building marked out by South Carriage Drive.

The virtual tour allows you to go back to 1851 without using expensive VR hardware, as it can be accessed using the devices that you already own, such as tablets; PCs, laptops, and mobile phones.

The tour offers a way for people to ‘get out of their house’, without actually having to leave their home. Visitors can take a tour of the Crystal Palace building, and learn something new using the educational, interactive hotspots, and look at fascinating illustrations of how the Crystal Palace looked in 1851.

“We’ve harnessed today’s technology to bring The Royal Parks’ heritage to life, uncovering the park’s past for everyone to enjoy, especially those who aren’t able to visit in person,” says Ledy Leyssen, head of learning at The Royal Parks.

Charlie Power from Seymour & Lerhn adds that “with the lockdown continuing, the virtual tour offers a unique way for people to ‘get out of the house’ and explore the history hidden within Hyde Park – all without actually having to leave their homes.”

Despite burning down in 1936, the legacy of the Great Exhibition lives on. The profits were put towards building the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as set up trusts to fund research and development that still exist today.

Check out the virtual tour now

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Featured, Home

Specsavers launches RemoteCare consultation service

3rd May 2020

Specsavers has launched a free sight and hearing consultation service across Derbyshire, giving access to vital advice and care from local optometrists and audiologists, via video and telephone link.

Specsavers is one of a number of organisations that are fast-tracking changes to their services to respond to the evolving needs of customers in the current crisis and the longer term. The new service, RemoteCare, is designed to cover concerns ranging from eye health and changes in the quality of sight, to contact lens aftercare and audiology health and aftercare.

Giles Edmonds, Clinical Services Firector at Specsavers said: “With our stores currently only able to offer urgent and essential care to a limited number of customers, we have been exploring innovative alternatives to in-person appointments. This is clearly significant given the present restrictions, but it is a service that we plan to continue for the long-term to ensure that everyone – especially those who are particularly vulnerable – can access the care and support that they need.”

“Lockdown is affecting all of our lives and there are already fears that people are delaying accessing essential health services in the current situation. This solution removes a number of barriers, especially with health services already under immense pressure. We hope that Specsavers RemoteCare, our video consultation service, will in some way help people who might otherwise have gone to their GP or to the local A&E unnecessarily.”

Specsavers will also be able to advise customers on how they can locate their prescription and buy new glasses by directing them to Specsavers’ recently-launched online glasses store.

GP and Media Medic, Dr Sarah Jarvis, said:”With so many patients unable to access face to face appointments with their GP, and concerned about attending A&E departments, this service could be invaluable.”

“Optometrists and audiologists using video consultations can offer reassurance and recommend treatment for many conditions, providing relief from symptoms and peace of mind. They can also advise patients when their condition does need urgent assessment.”

Developed in line with NHS recommendations on remote consultation, the new service is open to everyone, whether or not they are currently a Specsavers customer, and can be accessed securely from any digital device. If a customer is unable to use video, they will be able to get expert advice over the phone.

For more information on RemoteCare, please visit www.specsavers.co.uk/online-consultation-service

Click here to find out more about Specsavers Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home