Belper Civic ForumThe Civic Society of Belper and Milford in Derbyshire

 
Members of Belper’s Civic Forum inspected several important sites at risk in the town centre after their AGM on 9 June 2010.  Led by local historian Adrian Farmer, their tour included the frontage of the former Thornton’s chocolate factory on Derwent Street, the former Brettles factory shop on Chapel Street, and the course of the carriage drive across Belper Meadows to the Strutt family house.

On Monday 22 February, Amber Valley Planning Board failed to adopt the proposed Development Brief for the Meadows Edge site.  This may have been due to the call for a judicial review on the consultation process which we understand has been made by Friends of the Earth lawyers.  Civic Forum committee member Stephen Heathcote pointed out at the meeting that although the Council had listed representations made on the Brief document at its various stages so far, they had failed to provide the legally necessary statement explaining how the Brief was shaped and who had been consulted

The Civic Forum met on Wednesday 22nd February to hear from Community Planning Manager Rob Thorley how Amber Valley is consulting on its 'Core Strategy' for planning up to 2026.  This important document can be viewed at libraries and on the Borough Council's website (see below), but unfortunately it is too large to included here.  It is accompanied by a questionnaire (attached below), on which the Forum will co-ordinate responses at a meeting on 16 March at the Strutts Centre (to be confirmed).  The deadline for the Council's consultation is 31 March. 

Please see below for the offcial statement by Amber Valley Borough Council on how to be involved in this process.

Please see below for details of our next members' meeting, Weds 24 February, at Strutts Community Centre, Derby Road.  This is a members' only meeting, but you are very welcome to join us on the night.