Author: Dom Stevens

Upgrades to Chesterfield Railway Station included in new rail plan

18th July 2019

An ambitious new plan for the future of the Sheffield City Region’s rail network has been launched by Mayor Dan Jarvis.

The Integrated Rail Plan, has been welcomed by the Department for Transport. It was produced by Sheffield City Region and its local authority partners, supported by organisations including Transport for the North (TfN).

It sets out a vision for how the region will be better connected by both high speed and conventional rail networks into the future – regionally, across the North, and nationally.

The plan recognises that, while the benefits of national investment in HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), should be maximised, there needs to be ongoing, complementary investment in the local and regional rail and road networks. By doing this, the plan can best improve capacity, reliability, affordability, and journey times for communities and businesses across the Sheffield City Region.

Key elements of the plan include a proposed new Barnsley Dearne Valley railway station, with the preferred location on a site in Goldthorpe; the creation of a new Midland Main Line station in Rotherham; an East Coast Main Line railway station at Doncaster Sheffield Airport; extension of the Tram-Train, the upgrade of the Hope Valley Line; and significant upgrades of the railway stations at both Sheffield and Chesterfield, to accommodate HS2 services.

Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “This is a landmark moment for our region. For the first time, Government, regional partners and our local authorities have come together to welcome a vision for the future of our rail services, creating a Plan that will revolutionise rail travel for our communities.

Cllr Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I welcome the integration and improvements plans of routes between Chesterfield and other locations in the north of the country.

“The arrival of HS2 in Chesterfield is a fantastic opportunity to improve transport links at our railway station and we are confident that our residents will benefit from these changes.

“This also opens great opportunities for local people in terms of our growing economy, new jobs and the improvement of journey times.

“The plan continues to emphasise the importance of delivering the HS2 Station Master Plan, but there are some other initiatives linked to the Northern Powerhouse investment decision that will help to achieve objectives including further track investment and the proposal of services stopping twice per hour in the borough.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Chesterfield Borough Council declares a climate change emergency

18th July 2019

A motion was agreed at Chesterfield Borough Council’s full council meeting last night (17 July) to declare a climate change emergency in the borough.

Deputy Leader Councillor Amanda Serjeant proposed the motion in front of councillors, school children and members of the public, emphasising this is an issue the council needs to provide leadership on across the borough.

Twenty students from both Brookfield Community School and Parkside Community School were invited to attend the meeting after voicing their concern about the impact of climate change on our environment.

Councillor Serjeant also responded to questions from members of the public which had been submitted in advance of the meeting.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader Councillor Amanda Serjeant said: “I am delighted that the motion was accepted by my fellow councillors. By declaring a climate emergency in the full council meeting we as a council hope to show leadership in this important issue for our community.

“A working group will be set up including representatives from the council, community and business to establish how we can work together to make a real difference in our community.

“Tackling the effects of climate change is a key priority for the council. Therefore, I proposed the motion which will guide the future direction of the council to reduce its carbon footprint and to help others in Chesterfield work towards reducing their carbon use. I’d like to thank all the members of the public who came to hear the debate.

“Tackling this is very much about everyone making a difference. We can all do our bit as individuals, employees, within local businesses and in the voluntary sector. This way we can have the maximum impact and protect our environment together.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Derbyshire vs Yorkshire at Queen’s Park is sold out!

18th July 2019

Derbyshire County Cricket Club have announced that Saturday’s Vitality Blast opener against Yorkshire at Queen’s Park is now SOLD OUT.

The match sees the return of explosive Twenty20 cricket to Derbyshire, as the Falcons take on Yorkshire as the climax of the BRM Solicitors Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council.

For the third-consecutive year, the game will be played in front of a sellout crowd at Queen’s Park, with Dominic Cork’s side aiming to make it three wins in-a-row over their rivals.

The club received unprecedented demand for the eagerly-awaited local derby against Yorkshire with almost 5,000 supporters purchasing their matchday tickets in advance.

With capacity now reached, only matchday ticket holders will gain entry into the ground and tickets will not be available for sale on the gates. Members and Six Pack Ticket holders who have not already claimed their matchday ticket will also not be able to gain entry.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “Facing Yorkshire is always one of the highlights of the season and we’re really pleased that the fixture has once again sold out.

“It’s great that our first Twenty20 match of the season will be played in front of a capacity crowd in Chesterfield to round off another well-supported week of cricket in the north of the county.

“This is a fantastic summer for the sport, with the World Cup victory, an Ashes series on home soil and a packed domestic calendar. It’s pleasing to see the continued support for county cricket and we look forward to what is now an exciting block of Vitality Blast matches.

“We’re continually grateful to our Members and supporters and we know we have a strong base in Chesterfield. We’d also like to thank our Principal Partners, Pattonair, Festival sponsors, BRM Solicitors, and Chesterfield Borough Council for their continued support.”

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

Chesterfield Champions working together for local house hunters

18th July 2019

Two Chesterfield Champions are now working together to provide house hunters in Chesterfield with a sleek and professional home buying service.

Chesterfield based mortgage advisers Mortgage 1st and local Estate Agent Pinewood Property Estates are now proudly working together to enhance the home buying experience for their customers in Chesterfield and surrounding areas.

When a customer visits Pinewood Properties in search of a new home or buy-to-let investment they are met by an award winning team of estate agents, led by Stacey Davies-Bowler, who will assist them in finding the ideal property.

To put in an offer to buy a property, the customer needs an AIP (Agreement in Principle) which is proof that they can get a mortgage. Mortgage 1st has a team of experienced mortgage advisers, led by Jon Stones, that can search the market to find the best mortgage deal available to them based on their circumstances.

The two local businesses have come together to do what they do best and will provide expertise, guidance and exceptional levels of service to meet the needs of the modern house hunter of today.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure

Demand for building control services prompts new DBCP appointment

17th July 2019

Chesterfield Champion Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP) has further strengthened the delivery of its building control service across the county with the appointment of experienced building control surveyor Natalie Harwood.

Based out of the company’s Derby office, Natalie will be covering Heanor and Ripley working with builders, architects and property owners in the area.

Natalie is one of a number of new appointments made recently by the company across both its offices in Chesterfield and Derby. The new appointments support DBCP’s aims to be the building control service provider of choice in Derbyshire.

She boasts 20 years of building control experience having started her career as a trainee with Nottingham City Council in 1999. Prior to that, Natalie completed a shop fitting apprenticeship.

She commented; “My shop fitting experience gives me an appreciation of the pressures and constraints that the construction industry is currently under. I believe it’s important to take a partnership approach to deliver the best outcome for all concerned. This is at the very core of how DBCP operates and what attracted me to the company.”

Natalie joins DBCP at a time of growth for the company. As it responds to the construction boom in Derbyshire and the increased need for building control services.

Delighted to join the DBCP team, Natalie added: “My job is my passion. I am fascinated with structures and how buildings go together. I consider myself very lucky to call my job my hobby.”

DBCP is the recommended building control service provider in Derbyshire and is responsible for ensuring that all new construction, conversions, alterations and extensions are built to a minimum standard and meet certain health, safety and welfare standards.

To learn more about DBCP and available job opportunities, please visit www.dbcp.co.uk or call 0333 880 2000.

Posted in Business

University of Derby Civic Roadshow

17th July 2019

The University of Derby is hosting a ‘Civic Roadshow’ at its Chesterfield campus, as part of a series of free events to provide the wider community with the opportunity to share their thoughts on how the University can help to deliver long-term positive impact for Derby and Derbyshire.

The roadshow event which will be held on 24 July at the University’s St Helena campus in Chesterfield is an opportunity for external stakeholders to find out more about the University of Derby’s civic ambitions. The University is keen to understand what the biggest challenges are facing the local community, businesses and organisations within the city and county, and how it can focus its civic endeavours.

All are welcome to attend the roadshow to help shape the University’s future civic direction. There is also an online survey to provide feedback for anyone unable to attend the events.

As part of the University’s commitment to becoming a true Civic University, it signed up to developing a Civic University Agreement, a document that will reaffirm its ongoing commitment to playing its part in the city and county’s prosperity and wellbeing.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are committed to becoming a true ‘Civic University’, responsible not only to our students and our staff, but also to the places around us. To ensure the impact we make is long-term and sustainable, we first need to understand what the real needs of our city and county are.

“The Civic University Agreement is an opportunity to set out clearly, coherently and creatively how we will fulfil our responsibilities. It will see us working closely with our partners to help deliver positive change across Derby and Derbyshire that makes a significant impact on the county’s local communities, businesses, organisations and overall prosperity.”

Under the Agreement, the University will be driven by the following principles:

1. As a place-based institution, it is committed to attaching a high priority to the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of its local communities.

2. Its civic role will be informed by an evidence-based analysis of the needs of its place, developed collaboratively with local partners and informed by the needs of its local community.

3. It will collaborate with other anchor institutions and form partnerships to overcome the challenges facing local communities.

4. With its partners, it will be clear about what it does and how this is measured, so it can say with confidence what it has achieved – and how it might do better in the future.

The University of Derby Civic Roadshow is a free event taking place from 1pm-4pm on Wednesday 24 July at St Helena, 2 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 7LL

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Continued jobs growth bodes well for future prosperity

16th July 2019

The number of people in work in the East Midlands continues to rise, according to figures released this morning.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed there were 7,715 more people in work in the region in period between March and May 2019 than in the preceding three months.

There were 50,987 more people in work than a year ago and 80,984 more than two years ago.

Due to a rising population in the 16- to 64-years-old age range – the measure used by Government – the number of people out of work increased by 179 between March and May, by 7,480 compared with a year ago and by 16,835 compared with two years earlier.

The unemployment rate for the East Midlands was 4.2%, a 0.1% improvement on the previous month’s figure but consistent with the figure for the previous quarter. The UK figure was 3.8%, with England being 3.9%.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire rose by 1,320 in June compared with May according to the ONS today.

Nationally, the East Midlands had the highest percentage of jobs in the production sector at 14.4%.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at award-winning East Midlands Chamber*, said: “Once again the figures confirm what our own analysis tells us, that East Midlands businesses are creating jobs and wealth despite continuing political machinations and uncertainty about Brexit, which bodes well for the region and the national economy for when stability returns.”

Posted in Business

Estate agency director joins property industry elite

16th July 2019

Redbrik’s Managing Director Mark Ross is joining the estate agency elite after being chosen to be a guest speaker at the property industry’s flagship event.

Mark, a co-founder of Redbrik Estate Agents, is one of three Next Generation business owners selected to be interviewed on stage at the EA Masters 2020, by TV presenter Gabby Logan who is hosting the event.

He will be discussing Redbrik’s innovative and customer-driven focus that has driven their success in front of an audience of more than 1,000 property professionals, at the popular annual leadership and awards, exhibition and awards event.

It comes after Redbrik, which employs more than 50 staff across five offices in Sheffield and Chesterfield, was named in the top three per cent of all estate agencies in the country by the Best Estate Agent Guide 2019.

Last year Redbrik was named the number one estate agency in the region in the Best Estate Agent Guide, which assessed the performance of 25,000 branches across the UK, at the EA Masters Awards. Redbrik will find out in November which award it will add to its growing list of industry accolades by the leading nationwide guide.

Mark Ross, who co-founded the business in 2013, said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been chosen by the EA Masters to speak at this prestigious event and share Redbrik’s incredible story.

“It’s recognition for our unique approach to property marketing, which is helping the company achieve significant success in residential sales, lettings and new homes.

“In just over six years, we feel we have reset the benchmark for property marketing, service and results. The business has grown rapidly, but our original ethos of honesty, integrity and bespoke customer service for every single client still flows through everything we do.”

Host Gabby Logan will be supported on stage at the EA Masters by fellow BBC sports presenter and former rugby star Jonathan Davies and F1 broadcaster, Lucia France.

Josh Phegan, internationally renowned trainer and coach for high-performance real estate agents and agencies and Michael Pallier of Sotheby’s, Sydney, are amongst the other guest speakers.

The EA Masters 2019 will take place at Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, London, on 10 October 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Judges visit blooming marvellous Chesterfield

16th July 2019

Chesterfield played host to judges from the East Midlands in Bloom committee to judge the borough’s entry into the regional competition.

Chesterfield in Bloom is a year-round campaign, led by volunteers working with Chesterfield Borough Council to make continual improvements to the borough’s environment.

As part of the tour on Friday 12 July, the judges visited some of Chesterfield’s parks and green spaces, including the Green Flag award winning parks at Queen’s Park and the grounds of Chesterfield and District Crematorium. They also met volunteers and residents who have entered the Chesterfield in Bloom best kept garden competition.

Caroline Pollard, East Midlands in Bloom judge said: “It’s a very vibrant town centre, we’ve seen a very busy market and we’ve seen how some really colourful floral displays make such a big difference to the town centre, they really make it a lovely place to be.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Chesterfield in Bloom is such a great campaign, it takes part in helping to improve the local environment. It’s great to see that the Bloom projects and competitions throughout Chesterfield bring a variety of people together throughout the year.”

Chesterfield won three gold awards in last year’s East Midlands in Bloom competition. The results of this year’s awards will be announced in September.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

£1.15 million refurbishment of homes completed

15th July 2019

An event took place to re-open Chesterfield Borough Council’s Glebe Court in Old Whittington after a 1.15million refurbishment was completed.

Located on The Glebe Way, the property includes 22 one bedroom flats and has been refurbished throughout to create both a bright and welcoming living environment for residents.

Glebe Court is one of the council’s housing schemes for older residents in the borough.

During the renovations Glebe Court’s residents were relocated to other nearby properties, with the choice to either return to their former flats after the works were complete or to stay in their new accommodation. Eight of the original residents returned to the scheme following completion of the works.

The flats have all been altered to feature a balcony allowing fresh air and natural light to fill the newly refurbished kitchen and lounge areas, including space to fit a washing machine. The bathrooms have been converted into wet rooms with level access showers and the bedrooms all feature built-in wardrobes creating the sense of more space within the same footprint.

The communal lounge has been given a facelift with new floor to ceiling windows installed. The small kitchen space in the communal area has also been opened up into the lounge with the addition of a breakfast bar meaning that even when making drinks, residents can remain part of any activities that are taking place. A quiet room has also been designed upstairs to allow residents to escape the communal areas if they want to.

What was once the laundry room has been transformed into a treatment room complete with specialist equipment making it useable as a hair salon and nail care room with mobile businesses visiting residents regularly to offer their services.

External areas at the property have been extensively re-modelled, including a patio area outside the communal lounge, a mobility scooter store and a walkway which provides a short cut to the local shops.

The opening event was attended by a number of guests including members of Chesterfield Borough Council, staff and contractors linked who were involved in the renovation works.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “The new facilities at Glebe Court are great. I have spoken to a number of residents about what they think about the refurbishments and have received positive feedback. It’s good to see that all options have been considered from creating welcoming shared spaces to comfortable flats that are bright and inviting.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Two new businesses open in Markham House

15th July 2019

Chesterfield’s Lordsmill Street is reinventing itself as the Harley Street of Derbyshire, following the opening of two new businesses in the former Markham House.

The two-storey building has been transformed into premises for The Goldsmith Clinic and Lucy Shakespeare Personal Training and Sports Therapy. The businesses are private specialists in non surgical aesthetic treatments, health and wellbeing and were unveiled at a launch event held on Thursday 11 July.

The Goldsmith Clinic and Lucy Shakespeare Personal Training and Sports Therapy are the first businesses to take up residence in Markham House which was acquired by Chesterfield based property investment company Lodge Farm Estates in September last year. At the time, the deal represented the single largest transaction in Chesterfield for a number of years.

Both businesses have relocated from outside the town centre into their new Lordsmill Street premises following growth in demand for their services.

The premises have undergone a radical facelift following its previous guise as a nightclub. Now unrecognisable, Lucy Shakespeare Personal Training and Sports Therapy which is based on the first floor, features an air conditioned, fully equipped gym which offers one-to-one and group training sessions.

Owner of the business Lucy Shakespeare said: “This is my dream. I am passionate about health and fitness and helping people be the best version of themselves. The Goldsmith Clinic and I share the same strong desire to provide high quality, accessible and friendly service. Having the two businesses side by side means that we can provide a completely holistic approach to health, fitness and wellbeing. It’s a very exciting time for both of us.”

Formerly known as TAG Aesthetics, The Goldsmith Clinic, which is owned by the highly respected registered nurse practitioner and aesthetics specialist Theresa Goldsmith, is based on the second floor of the building and boasts a light and airy reception with three modern treatment rooms and a training room.

Theresa said: “Lucy and I have both created unique spaces in beautiful surroundings. Together we have brought to life a dream we have long had to create the ultimate space for aesthetics, health and wellbeing. It is something we believe that Chesterfield can be truly proud. We represent the very best in industry standards and training in our respective fields and we are delighted to bring our shared vision under one roof at Markham House.”

David Tate, director of Lodge Farm Estates commented: “I am delighted that Lucy and Theresa have brought a bit of Harley Street to Lordsmill Street. They are the first occupiers of this landmark building which is undergoing a significant amount of investment and breathing life and energy back into one of the town’s major gateways. The investment is ongoing as we continue to refurbish 14,000 sq ft and we shortly hope to welcome further occupiers to Markham House.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development